A possible reconciliation between the two warring factions in the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) is already unlikely, as the other camp is already “sounding like the opposition,” an official allied with the camp of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said on Monday.
Melvin Matibag, secretary general of the PDP-Laban Cusi wing, said Senator Manny Pacquiao is already sounding like a member of the opposition.
“Iba na ang linya ni Sen. Pacquiao eh (He has changed his tune). He is already sounding like an opposition candidate, not an administration candidate,” Matibag said in an online press briefing.
That is why he said, he doubts, a reconciliation would be in the offing.
“Ang pronouncements nila is more on agitation, rather than reconciliation,” he pointed out.
He said Secretary Cusi had tried to reach out to Pacquiao to iron out their differences, and extended a lot of courtesy to them, including Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
“We already extended a lot of courtesy to them, a lot of invitation to talk and despite of that hindi naging maganda ‘yung mga naging response (they had a negative response),” he said.
“And publicly marami nang sinabi si Senator Pacquiao at criniticize niya ‘yung (he criticized the) administration. So I think, we are beyond that already,” he said.
Cusi’s camp is endorsing the candidacy of Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go and President Duterte, while Pimentel’s camp is pushing for the presidential bid of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao had earlier said that corruption in government worsened under President Duterte’s watch. Duterte retaliated and challenged Pacquiao to expose corruption within his government prompting the senator to cite the anomalies in the Department of Health’s (DOH) COVID-19 response.
Pacquiao also cited irregularities in purchases of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).