Decision on PDP-Laban factions expected in December — Comelec spox Jimenez

The decision on which PDP-Laban faction is legitimate is expected by December of this year, Commission on Elections spokesman Director James Jimenez said Friday.

"This is expected around December 2021," Jimenez told reporters when asked if there is already a resolution on the issue.

To recall, the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi had filed a petition before the poll body to declare Senators Manny Pacquiao and Aquilino Pimentel III as illegal representatives of the party.

The poll body then ordered Pacquiao and Pimentel to respond to the petition filed by the Cusi wing.

Pacquiao’s group has maintained that they are the legitimate PDP-Laban group.

In a separate Friday News forum, PDP-Laban Cusi wing secretary general, Attorney Melvin Matibag, said they attended a hearing on Thursday regarding the issue.

Matibag said the poll body had instructed both camps to submit their respective position papers on the matter.

"Kahapon po nag-hearing na kami diyan, 'yun na po 'yung oral arguments at pinagsasubmit na po kami ng memorandum, ten days from yesterday so tingin ko mareresolbahan na po ng Comelec, after siguro mga ilang linggo dahil ten days from yesterday, after noon submitted na po for resolution 'yan so sasagutin na po nila," Matibag said.

(We had a hearing yesterday. That's the oral arguments and we are tasked to submit the memorandum, ten days from yesterday, so we think this issue will be resolved by the Comelec. After submitting the memorandum, it will already be up for resolution.)

"'Yun na po 'yung final na dokumento na ipapasa ng magkabilang grupo at base po doon sa mga naibigay na at naging hearing kahapon, magdedesisyon po ang Comelec," he added.

(Those were the final documents that both parties will submit.)

The rift between the two camps started when Cusi’s group pushed for PDP-Laban national council meetings and assemblies allegedly without the blessing of Pacquiao and Pimentel. — RSJ, GMA News