NO INTENTION. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte raises the hands of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial and guest candidates during the ruling party's ‘miting de avance’ in Pasig City on May 11, 2019. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday (July 15, 2021) said he has no intention to insult PDP-Laban when he shrugged off the threats to expel Duterte as the party’s chairperson. (Presidential photo)
MANILA – Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said he has no intention to insult President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling political party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Roque issued the clarification, a day after he shrugged off the threats to expel Duterte as chairperson of the PDP-Laban, founded by the late Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr.
“So, I do not intend to belittle PDP-Laban,” Roque said in a virtual press briefing.
Roque’s statement came after Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the executive vice chairperson of the PDP-Laban, hit back at the Palace official for saying that the ruling political party would be left with a few members, should it oust Duterte.
Pimentel told Roque, a member of the People’s Reform Party, to stop insulting PDP-Laban.
Roque expressed confidence that Pimentel has no intention to engage in a word war with him since they have been “friends” for a long time.
“I don’t think Koko Pimentel meant any harsh words for me because I refuse to believe that in the first place,” he said.
Duterte is set to preside over the PDP-Laban national assembly in Clark, Pampanga on July 17 amid the feud between the factions of Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, the ruling party’s president, and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the party’s vice chairperson.
On Tuesday, Pimentel told his party mates to ignore the July 17 assembly organized by Cusi who was kicked out of the PDP-Laban for allegedly violating its by-laws and constitution.
Quizzed as to how Duterte would deal with the ongoing feud within PDP-Laban, Roque said: “It’s better to ask Secretary Cusi because iyan naman po ay directed kay (that is directed to) Secretary Cusi.”
Roque also reiterated that Duterte is acknowledging that the PDP-Laban is a party founded by the Pimentel family.
Pacquiao and the PDP-Laban National Executive Committee have expelled Cusi as the party’s vice chairperson for allegedly “manipulating” its members to support the possible tandem of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her father in the 2022 presidential and vice presidential elections, respectively. (PNA)
