
The meeting started with Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves moving to adjourn the proceedings on the grounds that processes under their party rules had been bypassed.
“I feel very disappointed and I am even angered and I feel taken for granted being bypassed because Section 60 Article...says that the Secretary General shall serve written notice, that I am the Secretary General of the PDP-Laban party, buhay pa ako (I am still alive), hindi naman ako (I am not) incapacitated, hindi ko maintindihan bakit hindi ako ang pinapirma sa sulat (I don’t understand why I wasn’t the one who signed the notice)," Teves, who joined the meeting virtually via Zoom, said.
It was seen that Teves was raising his hand for several minutes until he was recognized by Energy Secretary and PDP-Laban vice chairman Alfonso Cusi, who presided over the meeting.
"Point of order, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am raising a point of order. According to procedures, I should be recognized," Teves was heard in the background of the live stream.
"Bago tayo nag roll call (Before we held a roll call), I was already raising a point of order and I pressed the raise hand setting in the Zoom app. I move that in the meantime, this meeting be adjourned," Teves said.
Not only his motion was blocked but the Council also did not recognize Teves as secretary general, saying that the position is currently vacant.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone was one of those who objected Teves’ move to adjourn the meeting. "We have convened this meeting in accordance with our Constitution," Evardone said.
Prior to the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles insisted that there was no conflict within the party. Nograles said the meeting was called by Cusi with authority from President Duterte, the party chairman.
"This is a Council Meeting and in a Council Meeting, the chairman can convene the council. So this is not the, what was referred to as the National Assembly. This is a Council meeting," Nograles said in a press briefing.
"As far as Secretary Cusi is concerned, he has been delegated with authority by our national chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, to conduct this meeting on his behalf," said Nograles, adding that party rules and by-laws allow the National Chairman to call a Council meeting.