The Supreme Court (SC) has settled the leadership dispute in the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), a political party chaired by former president Rodrigo Duterte in 2021.

In a decision, the SC recognized the group led by Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag as the legitimate leaders of PDP Laban.

Written by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the SC decision affirmed the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) ruling which recognized the Cusi-led group.

The decision dismissed the petition filed by former senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao who both challenged the Comelec’s ruling.

In a summary of the decision, the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson said that in 2021 Pacquiao wanted to run for president in the 2022 national elections under PDP Laban.

Cusi, however, held meetings and endorsed a different presidential candidate who was not a PDP Laban member.

Pimentel, then head of the party’s National Executive Committee, and Pacquiao passed a resolution which, in effect, sought the expulsion of Cusi.

As authorized by Duterte, PDP Laban’s National Council, presided by Cusi, met in Cebu City on May 31, 2021 and appointed Matibag as acting secretary general.

The committee led by Pimentel then expelled Cusi and Matibag and declared their positions vacant. Pimental was later elected as acting chairperson due to Duterte’s continued absence and incapacity.

Later, on July 17, 2021, the Cusi group held a national assembly which Duterte attended in person. During the assembly, new officers were elected, including Cusi as president, while Duterte retained the chairperson position.

The Pimentel group, on their other hand, held its own assembly on Sept. 19, 2021 and proclaimed Pacquiao as PDP Laban’s presidential candidate.

The Cusi group then filed a petition with the Comelec to declare the Pimentel-led group as illegitimate officers of PDP Laban.

The Comelec ruled in favor of the Cusi group. Pimentel and Pacquiao elevated the issue before the SC.

In resolving the petition, the SC said that under PDP Laban’s constitution, the vice-chairperson may take over the chairperson’s duties in cases of absence or incapacity.

In this case, the SC also said that Duterte had already authorized Cusi to organize and lead the May 31, 2021 meeting through a memorandum dated May 17, 2021.

Even if there were procedural issues such as a lack of coordination with Pacquiao or defective meeting notices, the SC ruled that the meeting was valid because of a proper quorum.

The SC pointed out that of the 162 voting members, 126 attended or about 80 percent. The required quorum was 40 percent attendance of all voting members.

It also noted that based on PDP Laban’s constitution, any defect in giving notice does not invalidate proceedings if a quorum exists.

Thus, the SC said that since the May 31, 2021 meeting was valid, the actions taken during and after the meeting, including the July 17, 2021 assembly, were also valid.

At the same time, the SC said the expulsion of Cusi and Matibag and the appointment of Pimentel as acting chairperson were void since Pimentel’s committee has no such power under the PDP Laban’s constitution.