PDP Laban exec: the nat’l PDP-Laban assembly must have OK from the party prexy
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte greets Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi at the start of the 35th Cabinet Meeting at Malacañan Palace on March 4, 2019. RICHARD MADELO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – The executive director of the PDP-Laban party stressed on Sunday that a party’s national assembly can only be called with the approval of the party chairman, Senator Manny Pacquiao.
In a statement, PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac said PDP-Laban vice president and energy secretary Alfonso Cusi did not have the power to convene the party’s national assembly. .
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said earlier that President Rodrigo Duterte, who is the chairman of the PDP-Laban party, ordered Cusi to convene the party’s national assembly.
READ: Duterte ordered Cusi to convene PDP-Laban National Assembly – Palace
“With all due respect to the presidential spokesperson, PDP Laban has its constitution and bylaws for a reason,” Munsayac said in a thread. “It is very clear that ONLY the President (President Duterte) in coordination with the Party President (Manny Pacquiao) can appeal to the National Council and / or the Party Assembly,” Munsayac said.
In the same statement, Munsayac added that Pacquiao will request a meeting with Duterte to set the agenda for a legitimate council meeting. The meeting between Duterte and Pacquiao, Munsayac said, could take place a month before nominations for the 2022 polls are filed, or even earlier if Duterte wishes.
“Let’s go through the proper process. Senator Manny Pacquiao will request a meeting with President / Chairman Duterte so that the two party leaders can discuss and set the agenda for the legitimate National Council meeting to be set one month before nominations are filed, or earlier if the president wants it, ”Munsayac said in his statement.
Munsayac asked why the announcement of the president’s directive to convene the PDP-Laban national assembly was made by Roque, who he said is not even a member of the party.
“[H]ow come we have not received any formal communication from President / President Duterte, only an announcement from his spokesperson who is not even a partymate, ”he said.
Munsayac, meanwhile, urged politics to take a back seat as the country has yet to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So unfortunate that in the midst of a pandemic, politics takes center stage. All of our God-given energies should be directed so that the country can still be great even after this crisis, ”said Munsayac. JOHN ERIC MENDOZA
/ MUF
Read more
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to access The Philippine Daily Inquirer and over 70 titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download from 4 a.m. and share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
For your comments, complaints or inquiries, contact us.
