Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) chairman Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr. on Tuesday said slammed the decision of the camp of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi to endorse the presidential candidacy of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. saying it is proof they are “total strangers” to the ideals of the ruling political party.
Pimentel made the statement after reports confirming that the PDP-Laban Cusi faction will be endorsing the candidacy of Marcos, Jr. who is running in tandem with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the President’s daughter surfaced.
Pimentel’s camp has been embroiled in a row with Cusi’s camp after the latter questioned the legitimacy of the factions of Senators Pimentel and Manny Pacquiao before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The PDP-Laban Pimentel camp is fielding Pacquiao as the official standard bearer in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
“With this latest action from Sec. Cusi and his cohorts, they have manifested that they are total strangers to PDP-LABAN,” Pimentel said in a statement.
“They don’t even acknowledge that PDP-LABAN was established to oppose the Marcos dictatorship,” he said.
He said it is time for the poll body to rule and dismiss the petition of Cusi’s camp which is backed by President Duterte.
“Time for Comelec to dismiss the petition of these usurpers!” Pimentel stressed.
“In Germany for example, a political party formed to oppose Adolf Hitler will definitely not support an Adolf Hitler Jr.,” he pointed out.
“Logic lang yan. Consistent with the PDP LABAN history and party constitution!” the lawmaker reiterated.
On Monday night, the National Executive Committee of the PDP-Laban’s Cusi wing release Resolution No. 26, Series of 2022, endorsing the candidacy of Marcos, Jr., stating that he is the candidate “whose platform is most aligned with the development program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.”
The resolution also stated that Marcos is the candidate “whose vision of governance is most aligned with PDP-Laban’s 11-point agenda.”
The Cusi faction, earlier, approved the vice presidential candidacy of Marcos’ running mate, Sara Duterte, and left out Marcos, Jr., from the endorsement after the President refused to endorse anyone.
But in the resolution, the PDP-Laban Cusi camp stated that the former senator received the most endorsements from several local councils of PDP-Laban.
Among the 11 PDP-Laban officials who signed the resolution are erstwhile presidential bet Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Secretary General Melvin Matibag and Cusi.