PDP-Laban holds meeting amid supposed leadership squabble

Amid its perceived leadership squabble, the ruling PDP-Laban Party held a meeting among its members at a hotel in Quezon City on Thursday.

The meeting came after people claiming to be officials of the regional councils of PDP-Laban elected a new set of officers last Friday.

Among those who attended the leadership meeting were party president, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, and secretary general, ouster Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

Present in the PDP-Laban leadership meeting are its president, Senator Koko Pimentel and secretary general, ex-Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez. pic.twitter.com/XGZlxrmgL8

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) August 2, 2018

Lawmaker-members and other known personalities belonging to the party were also present during the event.

In an ambush interview with reporters before the start of the event, Pimentel said that it is the tradition of the party to hold meetings such as this if given the opportunity.

"This is a good time to be with each other," he said.

"Habang may time pa, dahil October naman ang deadline ng filing [of Certificate of Candidacy], kung merong issues about political matters, puwede na nila i-raise ngayon at in the succeeding days," he said.

Pimentel, however, clarified that they will not elect new members in the party in their meeting.

He issued the clarification amid the plan of his partymates themselves that they will recommend newly-elected Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to a higher position in the party.

"This will not happen today, hindi ito yung eleksyon or nomination," Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that during the meeting, he will relay some of the achievements of the party to its members and discuss and resolve the group's internal issues with them.

"This is a celebration. We will try to keep to a minimum whatever arguments or disagreements today," he said.

"There will be specialized meetings to tackle specialized or specific issues," he added.

Last Friday, supposed officials of the PDP-Laban regional councils, led by Rogelio Garcia, elected a new set of officials of the party.

The said "national assembly" retained President Rodrigo Duterte as the party chairman and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go as the auditor, but replaced Pimentel and Alvarez as the party's president and secretary-general, respectively.

Aside from the apparent disunion in the party, several lawmakers from PDP-Laban are reportedly shifting alliances to the regional party of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Pimentel said he has no problem with this, saying there is no inconsistency in being a member of a national party such as PDP-Laban, and being a member of a regional party.

"You can be a PDP-Laban member at the same time be a member of a regional party or even party-list," he said.

"Siguro if they really need clarification, I will clarify na walang problem," he added.

Pimentel earlier said PDP-Laban party will remain strong despite the internal issues hounding them. — RSJ, GMA News