PDP-Laban faction elects new leaders; Pimentel shrugs off
MANILA, Philippines — A group within the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan elected new set of officers in a gathering described by the party’s president, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, as an unauthorized event.
In a gathering in Quezon City Friday, the faction replaced Pimentel with Rogelio Garcia as the party’s president.
Oath-taking of new set of ofcrs of PDP laban national council elected by group claiming to be members of PDP Laban. Sen Pimentel said this an unauthorized event by some rogue PDP members @News5AKSYON @onenewsph pic.twitter.com/SqDltUQHTA
— marie ann los banos (@maeannelosbanos) July 27, 2018
Garcia claimed they are the genuine members of PDP, according to a tweet report of News5.
“Aping-api na ang totoong miyembro na hindi pinapansin ng mga nasa taas,” he said.
Pimentel, however, shrugged off the gathering.
“Let them enjoy themselves since they have media coverage,” he told Philstar.com in a text message.
Pimentel, along with PDP-Laban vice chairman Sec. Alfonso Cusi and secretary general Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez earlier notified the party members that the “national assembly” and other activities that would be conducted by individuals who represent themselves as officers of the PDP-Laban National Council were not “officially sanctioned by party.”
“We wish to inform the party members and the public that these individuals have no authority to represent the party or its National Council and are therefore usurpers of party authority and shall be dealt with in accordance with existing election and criminal laws and party rules,” the officials said.
Last March, a feud between leaders and members of the ruling party rose when the group led by Garcia assailed Alvarez for allegedly accepting new applicants who did not undergo a seminar.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that President Rodrigo Duterte, the chairman of PDP-Laban, would not meddle with the dispute. — Gaea Katreena Cabico with a report from Marie Ann Los Banos of News5
- Latest
- Trending
