Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — As the rift between the two factions of the ruling PDP-Laban deepens, a political analyst pointed out that resolving the issue would be rather easy, but it would be “bloody” due to the involvement of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“It will only be bloody because the President is involved. To be honest if the president is not involved here, the decision is straightforward,” legal expert Tony La Viña told CNN Philippines.
“The facts are very clear. Ask yourself who is PDP-Laban… of course, it’s Koko Pimentel that is PDP-Laban and the people behind Koko,” he added.
Last week, Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff Abas said the poll body is set to hold “bloody” deliberations to settle the rift between the two factions of the ruling party, one led by Duterte-backed Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and another by Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Koko Pimentel.
RELATED: Pacquiao’s Senate bid would be better for PDP-Laban — Cusi-led faction
Both groups already submitted their own Sworn Information Update Statement containing their list of party officers and it is now up to the poll body which faction they would accredit for the 2022 elections.
On the possibility of the case reaching the Supreme Court, La Viña cited a previous instance involving Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza and the Liberal Party.
“In the past the Supreme Court actually stayed out of it. In the Liberal Party case, they said that should be an internal decision by the political party and that is what the Comelec should look at,” he explained.
“It does not take rocket science to know what the answer should be and that is the Pimentel-Pacquiao faction should be upheld,” said La Viña, noting that a decision should be made prior to the printing of ballots in December.
