The faction of Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) laughed off the estafa and qualified theft complaints filed by the group of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi against a former officer of the ruling party.
"This is a funny and ignorant attempt by a group that has no respect, knowledge, and understanding of the law. They have again shown their propensity to make lies and libelous assaults against law abiding citizens," a statement released by PDP-Laban stalwart and Pimentel ally Ron Munsayac on Saturday, September 18, read.
"There is no truth to their wild and baseless allegations against PDP-Laban Treasurer Evan Reballadura. Evan can easily answer and debunk such accusations in the proper time," the PDP-Laban group maintained.
On Friday, Cusi's camp claimed that Rebadulla, who was appointed by Pimentel, "repeatedly refused" to report and account for the party funds he handled during his term as treasurer.
PDP-Laban national committee officer Reymar Mansilungan filed the complaint before the Provincial Prosecution Office in Daet, Camarines Norte on September 16, accusing Rebadulla of failing to account for the party funds, allegedly including some P100 million from in membership fees of some 100,000 members.
In their press release, Cusi's group said the PDP-Laban sought Rebadulla’s cooperation, to no avail. The party officer allegedly did not present any of the fund reports to the National Assembly since he assumed as national treasurer of the party.
“Mr. Rebadulla has to account for all the collections of the party since he assumed office but since he refuses to do so, we are compelled to file this case against him,” Mansilungan said.
But Munsayac said the move from Cusi's group was a "clear admission of the rogue elements that they do not control the true PDP-Laban Party".
"The leadership of the Party is with the real officers who still contitue to exercise adminiistrative and executive control. They have admitted that they are not authorized and do not have any custody at all of the true and official records and resources of Party," he said on Saturday.
"Based only speculations and conjectures bereft of any evidence, they are desperately trying to scare and harrass the true leaders of the party...They are merely committing an illegal and hostile attempt to steal or hi-jack the party and its resources for their own selfish and corrupt ends," he pointed out.
Munsayac said that for their faction, "everything is in order in the records of the PDP-Laban and in the proper place."
Rebadulla also "did not commit any of crimes alleged by dubious personalities", claiming that as per their records, Mansilungan is not member of their party.
Before the filing of the charges, Cusi's group had challenged Pimentel and Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao on their claim that some 100,000 grassroots party members support their leadership of the PDP-Laban.
To recall, Pacquiao was ousted by Cusi's group as party president.
Later, Pimentel's group then elected the former Senate president to replace President Duterte as the party chairman.
The warring PDP-Laban factions have also endorsed different candidates for the 2022 elections.
Cusi's group recently proclaimed Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go and Duterte as their presidential and vice presidential candidates, while Pimentel's group is expected to support Pacquiao in his possible presidential bid.