Matibag quits post in Digong’s PDP-Laban

Lawyer and former acting Cabinet secretary Melvin Matibag has quit his post as the secretary general of PDP-Laban chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his resignation letter dated 19 October, Matibag said that he is "forever grateful for the trust and confidence you have bestowed to me as the party's secretary-general."

He added that he believes he has "shown my loyalty to you as the Chairman by helping to steer the party in the direction you have taken, especially during the national elections of 2019 and 2022."

Matibag did not give any reason for his resignation, apologizing instead for its "apparent inopportuneness."

He said that he will "always be available to give assistance to ensure smooth and seamless transfer of my duties and responsibilities."

Matibag's resignation comes at a time when the PDP-Laban is facing internal divisions.

In March 2022, Duterte appointed Matibag as the interim cabinet secretary. He replaced Karlo Nograles, who had been serving as the chairperson of the Civil Service Commission.

Matibag was affiliated with Alfonso Cusi's PDP-Laban faction, which had differences with the group led by Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel.

Cusi, who was the Department of Energy secretary during Duterte's term, supported President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 elections, while Pimentel supported ex-senator Manny Pacquiao.