September 29, 2022 | 4:56pm
MANILA, Philippines — A faction of the previous administration party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan elected Thursday Rep. Jose Alvarez (Palawan, 2nd District) as its new president, changing former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi who bowed out from the post to “give way for the consolidation of the party.”
After his election as president of the PDP-Laban faction chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte at its nationwide meeting in Pasay City, Alvarez vowed to go round nationwide and strengthen their ranks.
“I will do everything to maintain the power and strength of our party not just for us but also for the next generation of our country,” he stated in Filipino.
The group additionally formalized the election of Sen. Robinhood Padilla as its govt vice president, while Rep. Edwin Olivarez (Parañaque City, 1st District) was elected vice president for Metro Manila, Sen. Francis Tolentino was elected vice president for Luzon, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama was elected vice president for Visayas and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was elected vice president for Mindanao.
Former Cabinet Secretary Melvin Matibag remained as the group’s secretary common, while House Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Pampanga, third District) was elected treasurer and Sen. Christopher Go retained his place as auditor.
The nationwide meeting held by the Duterte faction of PDP-Laban didn’t go with out protests from the opposite group chaired by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, with that faction denouncing the gathering of what they believed to be “usurpers” of the party established to counter the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
“We vow to fight against the usurpers to protect our 40-year-old party,” stated Ron Munsayac, the Pimentel faction’s govt director, on Twitter. “During the course of the Party’s 40 year existence, it has surpassed countless challenges and battled multiple oppressors. We are steadfast in our stand to fight for our party’s principles, no matter where it takes us.”
The unique members of the @PDPLABAN denounces the farce of a gathering that’s taking place now. We are totally behind the management of Party Chairman Sen. @senkokopimentel and Party President @MannyPacquiao. We vow to combat towards the usurpers to guard our 40 12 months outdated party.
— Ron Munsayac (@RonMunsayac) September 29, 2022
The Commission on Elections dominated in May that the legitimate PDP-Laban is the one chaired by Duterte, however that is nonetheless underneath enchantment on the ballot physique.
Duterte, who presided over the election of the brand new set of officers of his PDP-Laban faction, urged members of his group to offer their “full support” to the administration of Marcos Sr.’s son and namesake, whom he as soon as known as a “weak leader.”
“We are not putting up a strong party against the party of the president. We are not going to quarrel. Far from it. We will be giving our full support for him politically,” Duterte stated. “But the president can be very sure that in the coming days, we will fiscalize. If we see something wrong, we will raise our voice.”
