Sanctions await members of the Partido Demokratiko ng PIlipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) who will attend the meeting on Saturday, July 17, even if President Duterte attends it, Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao said.
"Definitely, definitely . Kailangan masunod 'yong rules, constitution ng partido, at saka 'yong ideolohiya kailangan masunod (They have to follow the rules, the constitution of the party, as well as the ideology, it has to be followed)," said Pacquiao, PDP-Laban president, in an interview over radio DZBB Friday, July 16.
The senator maintained that he does not authorize and recognize the national assembly called by party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for lack of coordination with him.
Asked what penalties will be imposed on members who will attend the July 17 assembly, Pacquiao said: "Pwedeng suspension or ma-expel sa partido (They can be suspended or expelled from the party.")
What about Duterte, who is set to attend the event?
"Kung ano 'yong mapagdesisyunan ng national council, majority ng members ng PDP, then 'yon ang boses ng PDP (Whatever the decision of the majority of PDP-Laban members will be, then that is the voice of PDP-Laban)," Pacquiao said.
"Kung may ground lahat ng members, kahit ako presidente, kung may ground na pwede akong tanggalin, tanggalin. Walang...compromise (If there are grounds to expel members, including myself as the president, if there are grounds to expel it, then so be it, expel me. There is no compromise)," he added.
But he said he will not accept if he will be ousted as a president or as member of the party because of the interests of some groups of the party.
"Kung may masama akong ginawa, paglabag sa constitution and by-laws, tanggalian ako, walang problema (If I committed wrongdoings, violation of party constitution and by-laws, then they can expel me, I won't have a problem)," he said.
"Pero kung tatanggalin ako para lang sa vested interests, mga self interests lang ng iba, eh (But if they will remove me just because of vested interests, the self interest of others, then), I have the majority support of the members of the PDP ," he maintained.
The PDP-Laban faction supporting Pacquiao earlier ruled to expel Cusi from the political party for supposed violation of their constitution. Pacquiao said they have submitted the resolutions of the expulsion to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Cusi, on the other, had refused to recognize his expulsion and was bent on continuing the national assembly he set.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque also said that Duterte still supports his energy secretary, and will attend the July 17 meeting.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, will call for his own national assembly in September.