The ruling party chaired by President Rodrigo R. Duterte has expelled three of its top officials, including Energy secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, over alleged violations of its constitution.
The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) on Friday announced that it had expelled its vice-chairman Mr. Cusi, and deputy secretary-general , Melvin A. Matibag, for violating its laws “by showing allegiance to a political party apart from PDP Laban.”
The party’s membership committee head, Astravel “Astra” Pimentel-Naik, was also expelled.
“The expulsion of Cusi, Matibag, and Naik was explained in one of the three party resolutions that were issued by Party President Sen. Emmanuel ‘Manny’ D. Pacquiao and the PDP-Laban National Executive Committee (NEC) which constitutes the highest administrative and executive body of the party,” said a statement issued by PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac
The party’s executive committee also issued a separate resolution authorizing Mr. Pacquiao to create investigation committees to probe complaints about party members “who may have violated the party Constitution or may have committed acts inimical to the party by showing allegiance to another party,” the statement read.
The statement cited a resolution, which supposedly states that Mr. 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.”
“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.
Mr. Pacquiao, who is believed to be eyeing the presidency in the 2022 polls, earlier this month said state corruption is rampant. He had also criticized the President’s stance on the country’s sea dispute with China.
In response, Mr. Duterte said he would block the senator’s potential bid in next year’s elections if he fails to identify corrupt government officials.
The President himself had said in October that corruption in government was getting worse.
Mr. Cusi is among the individuals within the party who have been urging the President to run for vice-president next year.
During the PDP-Laban’s televised meeting on Wednesday, Mr. Cusi presented to the President petitions supposedly urging him to run for the country’s second highest post. Senators Ronald M. dela Rosa, Francis N. Tolentino, and House Speaker Lord Allan Q. Velasco, among others, were also present during the meeting.
Responding to the calls of his party mates, the President said he was seriously thinking about running for vice-president. Mr. Duterte, however, said he would turn out inutile if the elected president is not a friend.
Political observers and constitutional experts have said a Duterte vice-presidency violates the spirit of the post-dictatorship Charter.
The 34-year-old 1987 Constitution was crafted after dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. Was toppled in 1986. — Kyle Aristophere Atienza
