The political foes of the Pacquiao faction of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP)-Laban party on Tuesday, August 17 were asked to stop politicking in the face of rising COVID-19 cases and increasing allegations of corruption in government agencies.
Ronwald Munsayac, PDP-Laban executive director, issued the appeal even as he asked Filipinos to support boxing icon Senator Emmanuel ‘’Manny’’ D. Pacquiao in his August 21 championship bout in Las Vegas.
‘’Sana tigilan na muna ng expelled members namin na sila Cusi & Matibag ang pagbabato ng isyu at pamumulitika sa gitna ng pandemya (We are hoping that the expelled party members such as Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag, party secretary general, stop throwing issues and politicking in the midst of the epidemic),’’ Munsayac said.
Last month, Cusi replaced Pacquiao as PDD-Laban president.
The Cusi bloc also said that Pacquiao technically expelled himself from the party because of violations of the party constitution and bylaws.
‘’Umaasa po kami na magkaisa po ang mga Pilipino ngayong linggo sa pag suporta sa ating pambansang kamao Sen. Manny Pacquiao sa kanyang world championship fight (We are hoping that Filipinos join in supporting Senator Pacquiao in his world championship fight this week), Munsayac said.
‘’Dahil sa laban niya na ito, mas madami pa siya matutulungan na mga kababayan natin na mahihirap (In this fight, the senator can help more people, particularly the poor),’’ he stressed.
‘’Nakaka lungkot lang na madami sa mga opisyal ng administrasyon na ito ay panay pamumulitika ang inaatupag sa gitna ng tumataas na covid cases at dumadaming alegasyon ng korapsyon sa iba't ibang ahensya ng gobyerno (It is sad that in the midst of the pandemic and increasing allegation of a number of corruption cases in various government agencies, there are people in this administration who engage in politicking),’’ he added.
The statement of Munsayac was sought after Matibag reportedly said in an interview that Senator Pacquiao has a ‘’plan to put up a lot of national parties ‘para doon sa desire na tumakbo siyang presidente’ (where he might choose to run as president).’’
There are also reports that Jimuel, Pacquiao’s son, has been named youth affairs committee chairman of the Labor Party of the Philippines which would be under the senator’s control.
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