Pacquiao-led PDP faction ousts Pres. Duterte as party chair, replaces him with Sen. Pimentel

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 21: Manny Pacquiao responds to a question during a post-fight news conference after to his loss to Yordenis Ugas in a WBA welterweight title fight at T-Mobile Arena on August 21, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ugas retained his title by unanimous decision. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Steve Marcus / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

(Eagle News) – The faction of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) led by Senator Manny Pacquiao has ousted President Rodrigo Duterte as chair of its group, with Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., replacing him.

In a message to reporters on Sunday, Aug. 30, Ron Munsayac, executive director of the PDP-Laban group of Pacquiao said that the party’s National Council elected Pimentel as party chair replacing Pres. Duterte. He said former governor Lutgardo Barbo was elected as vice-chairman.  He referred to their PDP faction as the “original” PDP Laban.

The meeting was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30.

The election of new officers happened while Pacquiao was on board a plane on his way to the Philippines.

During the online meeting, after the election of their officers, the PDP Laban faction led by Pimentel then passed a resolution commending Pacquiao for his “gallant defense of the WBA title.”

In early July, the PDP Laban Pacquiao faction

“expelled” PDP-Laban Vice-Chairman Alfonso Cusi

, and two other top party officials for allegedly expressing support for presidential daughter Davao City mayor Sara Duterte as a possible presidential candidate.

Later that month, on July 17, Cusi was elected as PDP-Laban president in a meeting presided by President Duterte.  It was also President Duterte who swore in Cusi as the duly elected new president of PDP-Laban after 16 posts, including the PDP-Laban presidency, were declared vacant early in the assembly.

It was President Duterte himself who swore in Cusi that day as the duly elected new president of PDP-Laban after 16 posts, including the PDP-Laban presidency, were declared vacant early in the assembly.


(Eagle News Service)