While he is still training for his fight against Errol Spence in the United States, Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao may have already been knocked out by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Cusi was elected as the new president of the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), replacing Pacquiao, during the party's national assembly in Clark, Pampanga on Saturday, July 17.
"Mr. Chairman, Mr. President, partymates, maraming, maraming salamat po sa tiwalang ibinigay niyo sa akin at makakaasa po kayo na I will live by the oath that I took in front of you," said Cusi, who was introduced in the event as the party president.
No less than President Duterte, the party's chairman, administered the oath of Cusi and the other new officers of the party.
Despite Pacquiao's refusal to recognize the Cusi-led assembly, at least 82 of the some 250 voting PDP-Laban delegates attended the event physically and virtually.
Attendees also include Senators Francis Tolentino, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, and Christopher "Bong" Go, as well as House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
Before they voted, PDP-Laban members agreed in closed door to declare 16 national officer positions and committee chairmanships vacant, including Pacquiao's position.
While PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag, through his spokesperson, denied to reporters that they ousted Pacquiao, the administration-backed PDP-Laban faction still questioned the legality of the boxing senator's assumption as their president.
It said that according to the party's constitution, each officer has a term of two years. The existing officers, however, were supposedly holding their positions in holdover capacity, including Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, who relinquished the party presidency for Pacquiao last December.
"That is why we question the legality. Paso na lahat ng positions (All the terms are expired)," Matibag said.
Cusi, who was the party's vice chairman, was also the lone nominee to replace Pacquiao.
Pacquiao: 'Bahala na sila'
In a statement, Pacquiao hit the Duterte-backed PDP-Laban group for prioritizing politics and pushing through with their national assembly.
“Nakakalungkot na nakapasok na ang Delta variant sa Pilipinas at kapag hindi maagapan, marami ang maaaring mahawa. Ito dapat ang prioridad ng ating gobyerno (It's saddening that the Delta variant has already entered the Philippines, and if not prevented, will infect more people. This should be the priority of the government)," Pacquiao said.
“Kung sa tingin nila Cusi at iba pa na mas importante ang politika sa ngayon, bahala na sila. Sa huli, isa lang naman ang tanong na dapat sagutin: Sino ba ang sasamahan ng taong bayan (If Cusi and the others think that politics is more important, then so be it. In the end, there is only one question to be answered: Who will the Filipinos support)?" said the senator, who was rumored as eyeing the presidency in 2022.
Meanwhile, Pimentel, PDP-Laban's executive vice chairman, floated the possibility that his and Pacquiao's group will bring the matter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
"Baka doon nga magkikita siguro lalo kung ieenforce 'yong isang grupo 'yong kanilang paniniwala (Maybe the Comelec is the meeting place if the other group will enforce their belief) that they have taken over a certain party)," he told radio DWIZ earlier Saturday.
He maintained that Pacquiao's leadership in the party was the "status quo", even with Cusi replacing his colleague.
"The gathering hosted by Sec. Cusi is not recognized by the existing PDP-Laban leadership. Since Sec. Cusi wants to be a stickler for rules then he should follow all the rules of the Party. You cannot make attendees to a PDP LABAN party assembly instant members of the party on the spot!" Pimentel said in a text message when asked about the concluded national assembly.
"As far as the present PDP-Laban leadership is concerned, we will continue to function as the party," he stressed.
Go, for his part, called on his fellow lawmakers Pacquiao and Pimentel to cooperate, so they can finally settle the dispute within the party.
"Sen. Koko, magkasama naman tayo, at Sen. Manny, sana maayos na rin po itong gusot (Sen. Koko, we are colleagues, anyway, and Sen. Manny, I hope we can settle this issue)," he said in a separate DWIZ interview.
"Sayang naman na po at magkahati, watak-watak kami (It's a waste if we are divided)," he added, saying he is "more than willing" to mediate between the two PDP-Laban sectors.
Duterte has been criticizing his former ally Pacquiao since he started questioning some of his policies and the prevailing corruption in government.