Pacquiao: PDP-Laban members backing Marcos are stupid trapos

MANILA, Philippines — PDP-Laban members who follow Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s wing in supporting the presidential bid of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are trapos (traditional politicians) and stupid, Promdi presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao urged PDP-Laban members to think thoroughly before deciding whose presidential bid to support, especially since the Cusi wing endorsed Marcos – whose father’s dictatorship was why the party was formed in the first place.

“Those who would follow Cusi, sorry to say this, but they’re really becoming – first, a trapo and second, they’re probably not thinking. This party was formed to fight the rule of Ferdinand Marcos,” Pacquiao told reporters yesterday.

“We are asking PDP-Laban members to think before deciding who to support. Think first thoroughly about why this party was formed. This was formed because they fought against the government of Ferdinand Marcos and now, it’s like a slap in the face if they support Bongbong Marcos,” Pacquiao told reporters.

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan used to be separate political parties founded in 1982. The PDP was formed by then-senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. while Laban was organized by the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

The parties merged in 1983 due to their common goal of ending the dictatorship of then president Marcos.

Pacquiao’s appeal to members came after Cusi’s wing within PDP-Laban endorsed Marcos Jr.’s bid for the presidency.

Pacquiao – who supposedly remains as PDP-Laban president under Sen. Koko Pimentel’s faction – locked horns with Cusi last year over the party leadership due to the latter’s insistence on fielding an outsider, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, now vice presidential running mate of Marcos.

Pacquiao was supposedly ousted as party president and replaced by Cusi. Since then, both factions filed separate sworn information and updated statements last August before the Commission on Elections. If the Comelec decides in favor of one, the other would not be able to field candidates under the party’s name.

Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy under Cebu-based regional party Promdi, while PDP-Laban lost its presidential bets after prospective standard-bearers Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go decided to quit the race.

Their endorsement of Marcos virtually makes him the party’s standard-bearer.

Pacquiao said the Comelec should decide on the party dispute before the elections, but admitted the poll body was busy with preparations.

“Let’s wait for the decision of the Comelec,” he said, noting the national council of PDP-Laban allowed him to use Promdi as the parties’ advocacies are similar.