Pimentel tells Moreno: PDP-Laban endorsement already belongs to Pacquiao
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Monday, Feb. 21 cautioned Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso from seeking the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan's (PDP-Laban) endorsement for the presidency, saying that such support is already taken.

“Tandaan niya, ang PDP-Laban endorsement - walang presyo iyon,” said Pimentel in a news conference at the newly-opened campaign headquarters of Senator Manny Pacquiao, the PROMDI party standard-bearer.
Pacquiao, who faced the new media ahead of Pimentel, said there are now unity talks between the PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing) and certain officials of its rival, the PDP-Laban (Cusi) wing but only on the lower level of its organization.
“Ang mga nakausap namin ay gusto nila ng pagkakaisa. Iisang party lamang kasi kami (Those whom we have talked to want unity. It’s because we belong to only one party),” he said.
Moreno has reportedly approached the Cusi wing for its endorsement of his candidacy for president but still hasn’t received a response from Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
Pimentel clarified that their group is pursuing reconciliation but not with current Cusi wing officials whom he claimed were the reasons behind the PDP-Laban split.
He said Moreno should be warned that the endorsement he is seeking is actually from the bogus officials of the party.
“We are already 40 years old as a party, hindi na tayo teenagers at alam na natin ang tunay sa peke (we are no longer teenagers and we know the fake from the real),” he said.
“Those who are actively seeking the Cusi endorsement will have to pay the political price pagdating ng panahon (when the time comes),” stressed Pimentel, chairman of the PDP-Laban wing he and Pacquiao head.
He referred to Moreno as a possible victim of the Cusi wing whose endorsement may not amount to anything because their ledership of the party is being questioned before the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“They had no investment in the party for the past 40 years. They are not even elected officials of the country,” said Pimentel.