PDP-Laban welcomes ‘golden age’ amid cracks; eyes party post for Arroyo
SENATOR Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd on Thursday assured his party mates that the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) was “healthy” and was in its “golden age” despite the cracks and would even “entertain” the idea of electing Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to a higher position.
“We belong to a healthy PDP-Laban…in fact, I can say that this is the golden age of the [party],” the party president said in his speech during a top-level meeting in Quezon City on Thursday.
Pimentel said since the 2016 elections, the membership of the party has significantly increased from 40,000 to 93,000—with 300,000 pending applications.
Citing the PDP-Laban database, Pimentel said the party was currently led by President Rodrigo Duterte, two senators, 126 representatives, 38 governors, 24 vice governors, 171 board members, 649 mayors, 142 vice mayors, and 20 assemblymen, among others.
Pimentel said that because of the party’s expansion, problems have also surfaced, with some of the members not complying fully with requirements on oath-taking, basic membership seminars, and payment of fees and other dues.
“We have to formalize our own membership….because only fully compliant members can be voters or electors in the party,” he said.
When asked in an ambush interview whether the party would give newly-elected Speaker Arroyo a higher position in PDP-Laban, Pimentel said:
“The recommendation to give Speaker Arroyo a position in the party is based on the practice of other parties—automatic ranking. Unfortunately, that is not the tradition here. But it makes sense. We have to entertain it,” he said.
Arroyo left her former party Lakas-Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) under her chairmanship and took an oath as member of PDP-Laban in October 2017.
“This is a camaraderie, a celebration. [For other concerns like this,] we will have a specialized meeting soon. There will be no elections or nominations for now,” he said.
Also in attendance were former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, PDP-Laban secretary general; and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, vice chairman.
The meeting came after a PDP-Laban faction, which considers itself the “genuine” group, held its own election last week, ousting Pimentel and Alvarez as their top leaders. Rogelio “Vic Vic” Garcia of Region 12 and Willy Talag of Metro Manila were elected to replace Pimentel and Alvarez.
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