No ‘fight’ anymore? Duterte-led PDP officially drops ‘Laban’ from name

MANILA, Philippines — Political party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) under the leadership of former president Rodrigo Duterte has decided to officially drop the second part of its name — Laban, which stands for Lakas ng Bayan — during a meeting of its members in Cebu City.

During the celebration of the party’s 42nd anniversary on Friday which was streamed on their official Facebook page, a motion — which was said to have been deliberated extensively — to drop the ‘Laban’ part of the name was raised.

The motion was then approved with none of the members present objecting.

READ: Duterte-led PDP-Laban wing: We ‘respect’ party founder widow’s ‘opinion’ on Marcos endorsement 

“One of the important amendment(s) introduced is the removal of the word ‘Laban’ from the party (name) — before it’s PDP-Laban, but now it’s going to become PDP only or Partido Demokratiko Pilipino,” the moderator said.

“That’s the removal, with the removal of the word Laban in our party’s name. Philip (Salvador), natanggal na ‘yong ‘Laban’ ng laban mo. So any objection to the motion, to the amendment? […] Hearing none, motion is approved,” former Energy secretary Alfonso Cusi, who is the party’s vice chairman, replied.

PDP was founded by former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. in February 1982 in Cebu City, along with other protesters opposing the administration of former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — father and namesake of incumbent President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The party eventually merged with Lakas ng Bayan (Power of the People), which was founded by another Marcos critic, former senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. Together, the two parties adopted the name PDP-Laban, and became the ruling party when Aquino’s spouse, former president Corazon Aquino, took office.

The party became dormant after Aquino’s term and gained prominence again only when Duterte was elected into office in 2016. However, observers noticed a shift in the party’s politics and goal after its reemergence, culminating in the party’s endorsement of President Bongbong Marcos.

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, son of the PDP founder, slammed the decision of the Duterte-Cusi wing to endorse Marcos’ candidacy.

READ: Pimentel slams Cusi’s support for Marcos; says time for Comelec to dismiss petition of ‘usurpers’ 

Nene’s widow, Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel also criticized Duterte-Cusi wing party members for endorsing Marcos Sr.’s son.

According to former PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag, they respect Bing’s opinion, but the party is a democratic one as members decided to throw their support to Marcos.

It is unclear now, however, if PDP-Laban will field senatorial candidates like actor Philip Salvador in an alliance with the administration as Duterte openly criticized the Marcos administration over its foreign policy.