Intact PDP flexes muscle

Arm-in-arm Partido Demokratiko Pilipino officials and members (from left) former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino, Negros Occidental Rep. Albee Benitez, former Senate President Koko Pimentel, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Energy Secretary Al Cusi and Kat Yu lock arms in yesterday’s meeting. Analy Labor

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) flexed its muscle in its revitalized role at the House of Representatives at a meeting yesterday as its leaders said the party remains intact and solidly behind the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Leaders of the party, including president and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, secretary general and former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, vice chairman and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Speaker Gloria Arroyo, a PDP member, was a no-show.

A party member said Arroyo was not expected to attend the assembly.

The source said Arroyo remains with the original PDP and she is not breaking away from the party.

Deputy secretary general Melvin Matibag said around 150 party stalwarts that include mayors, governors and congressmen attended the party meeting.

Matibag said the message of Alvarez set the tone of the meeting which he said was conducted in a “relaxed manner.”

“Let’s work together as friends in support of the President because the President’s success is the success of the party,” Matibag quoted Alvarez as saying.

The former Senate President said it is the tradition of the party to hold meetings given an opportunity.

“This is a good time to be with each other,” Pimentel said. “There is still time, because the filing of the CoC (certificates of candidacy) is in October. So if there are other issues about political matters, then this is the time to raise their concern,” he said.

Pimentel reported the numerous accomplishments of the party, including its alliance with political powerhouse in other countries such as China, Russia and North Korea.

Matibag added there was no discussion at all about the supposed faction that staged an election of new party leaders.

He said the party members are looking forward to a follow-up meeting although they have yet to set the exact date for it.

The party threw its support to ABS party-list Rep. Eugene de Vera as minority leader.

Alvarez said he is backing De Vera, adding he has no plan to become the minority leader.

In an interview at the sidelines of the PDP party leadership meeting, an all-smiling Alvarez told reporters that he and his allies are already contented with De Vera as leader of the minority.

PDP held a meeting among its members amid its perceived leadership squabble which saw other people claiming to be officials of the regional councils of PDP elected a new set of officers last Friday.

“No way,” Alvarez said when asked if he wants to be minority leader. “We are content with Eugene.”

Alvarez and his allies applied to De Vera to become members of the minority, saying he should be recognized as acting minority leader as he is the only high-ranking member of the original minority bloc who did not vote for the election of Speaker Arroyo.

The Liberal Party-Magnificent 7-Makabayan Bloc coalition led by Marikina Rep. Romero Quimbo could not be considered the minority, Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas added.

“There is an existing minority, based on the Supreme Court decision,” Fariñas said.

He added Quimbo’s group should apply to be part of the existing minority group.

“Quimbo is still the deputy speaker and he is trying to grab the recognition when there is an existing minority bloc,” Fariñas insisted.

Fariñas said he refused previous offers from Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez to vote against Alvarez to maintain his position.

“He told me, ‘join us and we will make you majority leader.’ I said, ‘I am not like that.’ I became majority leader because of the trust and confidence of Speaker Alvarez,” Fariñas said.

He added Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay promised to warn him in case plans to oust Alvarez pushed through.

The former Speaker said he is moving on from the “coup” that ousted him more than a week ago.

“I’m good, I’m at peace and sleeping soundly,” he told reporters.

Alvarez said he does not hold grudges nor feel betrayed by his allies who turned their backs on him and supported Arroyo’s speakership.

He thanked, however, his fellow lawmakers who stayed by his side.

“I am thankful since the values of loyalty are there,” he added.

Both Alvarez and party president Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III were tight-lipped on the supposed plans of his fellow partymates to recommend Arroyo to occupy a higher position in the party.

“Let’s see,” Alvarez said. “We will talk about it.”

Lawmakers should focus on their work in the remaining session days of the current Congress instead of fighting over the leadership in the minority, according to Quezon Third District Rep. Danilo Suarez.

In a televised interview, Suarez said that he will serve his term as minority leader until 2019 and those who question this may do so before the Supreme Court or the Speaker.

Suarez, who was the minority leader before Arroyo ousted Alvarez as the Speaker, said they should just continue with their jobs as lawmakers because there are still pending bills to be discussed.

“At the end of the day, I hope the audience will understand the fact that we barely have nine months to go. Why should we bicker on this? Why don’t we just go back to work? There’s a lot of work to do,” Suarez said.