Cusi denies PDP-Laban ‘power grab’ attempt

PDP-Laban Vice Chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi on Tuesday denied that there was a “power grab” attempt in the ruling party.

His remark came after reports that PDP-Laban Executive Vice Chairman Senator Aquilino Pimentel III asserted their authority over the party, claiming that Cusi is the “brain” behind the “power grab” in the party.

Pimentel is the son of PDP-Laban founder, the late former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel.

“Walang exclusivity ‘yan na kailangan ang pamilya lang ang magli-lead o mga originals. So whoever has the passion for it katulad ng ating Pangulo [Rodrigo Duterte] na kita ninyo inutulak ang prinsipyo at ideologies ng partido kaya nandoon ang mga miyembro sumusunod sa kanya,” Cusi said in an ANC interview.

(There is no exclusivity that the family or the originals are the only ones who can lead the party. So whoever has the passion for it like our President who pushes for the principles and ideologies of the party. That is why the members are following him.)

“There will be no power grab because ang power grab is ‘yung sayaw ng mga miyembro kinuha mo. Pero ito the members, it is the body that is deciding. So how can there be a power grab?” Cusi asked.

(A power grab is when you are going against the will of its members but the members are deciding. So how can this be a power grab?)

Moreover, Cusi said he, as well as President Duterte, respected the late Senate President Nene Pimentel. He also denied that there were two PDP-Laban parties.

“There is only one PDP-Laban and that is the PDP that is founded by the late Senator Nene Pimentel,” he said.

Cusi then criticized the younger Pimentel, saying the lawmaker should have done a better job of protecting his father's legacy.

“You know, Senator Koko Pimentel was the president of the party. He should’ve taken care of the party very well to protect the legacy of his father,” Cusi said.

“We recognize the legacy of the late Nene Pimentel and we want to preserve that and we don’t want to take it away from him.”

Cusi said the intramural contest in the ruling party was part of the process for PDP-Laban to “achieve maturity.”

“Nobody is taking over the party.,The party is the people. So it's up to the people. The party will remain whether he is leading or another person is leading it,” he added.

The Energy Secretary repeated his call for Pimentel’s group to join the national assembly and present their issue before the body to “resolve and achieve unity.”

“If the party decides on the matter, fall behind it, support it, or otherwise leave,” Cusi said.

The Cusi-led faction in the PDP-Laban is set to hold another national council meeting on July 16. They are also scheduled to hold a national assembly on July 17 to elect new party officers. — DVM, GMA News