Presidential bet Senator Manny Pacquiao has called on his fellow members of PDP-Laban to reject the party's Cusi-wing endorsement of the candidacy of rival Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Pacquiao on Tuesday, March 22 reminded members that the party was actually formed to fight the dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the father of Marcos Jr.
"Baka nalimutan ni Cusi na ang PDP ay nabuo against sa Marcos regime. Baka nakalimutan lang niya. Lahat ng miyembro ng PDP, huwag po natin sundin si Cusi (Perhaps Cusi has forgotten that PDP was formed to fight against the Marcos regime. Perhaps he forgot about it. So to all members of PDP, don't follow Cusi)," he told reporters in an interview during his sortie in Muntinlupa City.
Pacquiao, who is also a PDP-Laban member but under the Pimentel wing, was referring to Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who splintered from the ruling party to form his own faction.
Cusi, the president of his own party wing, signed a resolution declaring support and endorsement to the candidacy of Marcos Jr. This, despite mixed signals from party chairman, President Duterte, regarding Marcos.
"Ano yan... parang isang sampal para sa mga miyembro ng PDP (It's a big slap to members of PDP)," he said, although he noted that he is not picking a fight with Cusi.
PDP-Laban stands for Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan, which used to be two separate parties founded by former senators Aquilino Pimente Jr. and Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr.
The parties merged as the both shared a common goal of putting an end to the dictatorship of Marcos Sr.