Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — It’s now up to the Commission on Elections to settle the infighting in the ruling PDP-Laban party as two factions have submitted different sets of officers to the poll body.
The group led by Senator Manny Pacquiao confirmed to CNN Philippines on Tuesday that they have submitted their own Sworn Information Update Statement – which contains the list of party officers – to the Comelec last month.
“Nakapagfile na kami ng SIUS noong July pa (We already filed our SIUS in July),” PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac said in a phone interview.
He refused to disclose details, including the exact date of filing and the names of officers. As far as the group is concerned, then party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi has been expelled along with Secretary General Melvin Matibag and Membership Committee Chairperson Astra Naik.
But on Aug. 4, the Cusi wing also submitted their SIUS to the Comelec and even released a copy of the document the next day. It was signed by Cusi and party chairman President Rodrigo Duterte no less. It contained the names of 16 national officers elected during a national assembly presided over by Duterte but contested by the Pacquiao camp.
Under the Comelec’s calendar of activities for the 2022 elections, all political parties have to submit their SIUS by August 15. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said that if factions within a party submit different documents, the commission would conduct a hearing to determine which one is legitimate, based on which group followed the party constitution and bylaws.
This happened in the 2019 midterm elections. Comelec sided with the group led by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III in the dispute with lawyer Rogelio Garcia. The decision was upheld by the Supreme Court. Pimentel and Garcia both claimed to be the party presidents, similar to the case now with Pacquiao and Cusi.
Last December, Pimentel stepped down and appointed Pacquiao as party president, igniting tension in the party.
Go-Duterte tandem a ‘smokescreen’?
The Cusi group on Tuesday also released a copy of the Aug. 4 resolution endorsing Senator Christopher “Bong” Go as standard bearer and Duterte as vice presidential bet in the 2022 elections.
Munsayac said grassroots members supportive of Pacquiao believe the Go-Duterte tandem is a “smokescreen” to cover their support for presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte of the regional group Hugpong Ng Pagbabago.
“Kasi wala namang naniniwalang magkalaban silang dalawa… Si Bong Go vs. Sara, wala pong naniniwala. So tingin po ng mga partymates namin sa baba e smokescreen lang ito, distraction lang po ito,” Munsayac said.
[Translation: Because no one believes that they will go against each other… Bong Go vs. Sara, nobody is buying that. Our party mates in the grassroots think it’s just a smokescreen, it’s just a distraction.]
Cusi earlier denied pushing for a Duterte-Duterte tandem but said the party would consider if the President chooses his daughter as running mate.
In a statement on Tuesday, Go reiterated that he is not interested in seeking the presidency. He earlier said he would change his mind if the President agreed to be his running mate.
LOOK: The Cusi-led group in the ruling PDP-Laban party submits set of officers to the Commission on Elections.
Political parties have until Aug. 15 to submit their Sworn Information Update Statement ahead of the 2022 polls. | @eimorpsantos
📷: PDP-Laban Secretariat pic.twitter.com/qEhy50NZKg
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 5, 2021
LOOK: Copy of the PDP-Laban resolution endorsing Sen. Bong Go as standard bearer and Pres. Rodrigo Duterte as vice-presidential bet.
It's signed by members of the nat'l executive committee led by party president Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi. https://t.co/6JmgR4Wiyc | @eimorpsantos pic.twitter.com/ULRJdqkOQB
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 10, 2021
