Former president Rodrigo Duterte (Malacañang photo)

Members of one-time ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) will have to decide sooner or later whether or not they will back the rhetoric of their party chairman, former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Thus, said House Deputy Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who spoke about the supposed split personality of PDP nowadays. 

"Yung PDP ano, sila naman ay supportive din kahit sa ating Speaker ano and that has to be also recognized. However, hindi rin natin maikakaila na marami sa mga sumisira, marami sa mga nananawagan na pababain ang President ay miyembro ng kanilang partido," Acidre said. 

(PDP is also supportive to our Speaker that has to be also recognized. However, we can't deny that many of those who have been calling for the President's resignation are members of the party.) 

"Ito lang ay challenge ko na lang sa partido PDP: Kailangan nilang mamili at a certain point, kailangan nilang diinan kung sila ba ay para sa bayan? Or kanila bang papayagan ang ganitong mga salita?" Acidre said. 

(This is my challenge to the PDP party: They will have to make a choice at a certain point, they must stress whether they are for the country? Or will they tolerate this language?) 

PDP is chaired by Duterte, arguably the most influential among the Marcos administration's critics. 

The party's president is Palawan 2nd district Rep. Jose Alvarez. Last month, Alvarez said that he and party stalwarts weren't obligated to echo or support Duterte's sentiments. 

"Mataas ho ang aking pag-galang lalo na po sa kanilang pangulong si Congressman Alvarez (I have high respect especially for their president, Congressman Alvarez) but it’s a choice that the party has to make, will they tolerate this language, this behavior?" Acidre said. 

Acidre says the PDP solons' choice is between those who want to weaken the country's political institution and those who seek to strengthen it. 

"Meron tayong Pangulo ngayon na nananawagan na magkaisa tayo (We have a President right now who is appealing for us to unite), somebody who tries to unite, anybody siguro who wants to divide must be made accountable whether politically or by whatever means for taking that stand," he said. 

The mid-term elections is less than a year away.