Manny Pacquiao Kicks Out PDP-Laban Official Pushing for Duterte as VP

The party president issued a resolution.

by Arianne Merez

Photo/s: Courtesy of Alfonso Cusi Facebook Page

Sen. Manny Pacquiao has kicked out Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi from PDP-Laban, for "showing allegiance" to another political faction, a party executive said Friday.

Cusi, who serves as vice chair of PDP-Laban, was expelled along with Deputy Secretary General Melvin Matibag and Membership Committee Head Astra Naik. The three supposedly violated the PDP-Laban constitution by “showing allegiance to a political party apart from PDP Laban.”

Cusi has been among the most outspoken officials of the party in support of a vice presidential bid for President Rodrigo Duterte, who, in turn, has been criticizing Pacquiao over the fighting senator's corruption claims.

The expulsion of Cusi and the two other party executives were formalized in a party resolution issued by Pacquiao, who sits as president of PDP-Laban, and the party's National Executive Committee.

“Vice Chairman Cusi is already manipulating the party to support the Duterte-Duterte tandem which is a blatant admission of supporting Sara Duterte Carpio for President, who is not a member of the Party," the resolution stated.

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"He is guilty of having allegiance to a candidate and her political ideals and party. Such a candidate does not even believe in Federalism, her party fielded candidates against and opposed official candidates of PDP-Laban in 2019 Elections, and she is vehemently opposed to joining the PDP-Laban Party,” it added.

Pacquiao has been linked to a possible presidential bid in 2022.