The Pacquiao wing led by presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao will ask the Comelec to reconsider its decision declaring the Cusi faction as the “true and official members” of the ruling PDP-Laban party.
“We will file a Motion for Reconsideration as a matter of right within five days from receipt of copy of Decision,” assured Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
Pimentel’s father, the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel II, was one of the founders of PDP-Laban.
Sen. Koko sits as national chairperson of the Pacquiao faction.
The Cusi wing is led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi and President Rodrigo Duterte as president and national chairperson, respectively.
According to Pimentel, the Comelec’s decision is not immediately executory.
“We will raise again the following points and we hope the Comelec en banc will look at these issues with eyes wide open,” said Pimentel.
He spelled out these points as the petition was fatally defective and it was filed for and on behalf of a political party without any Board Resolution authorizing its filing.
He described the Comelec as “very lax” on Cusi when it comes to requirements.
He noted that Cusi and company have no authority to file the petition and yet it was accepted by Comelec.
“What happened to the requirements from petitioners before the Comelec can act on their petition?” asked Pimentel.
He also emphasized that the lawyer who signed for it didn’t even have updated MCLE (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education).
According to Pimentel, also a lawyer, they will also raise before the Comelec the other arguments they brought up in their initial comment submitted to the Comelec.
They will press the Comelec to explain why they referred the fatally defective petition to a division without even informing Pimentel’s party, “as we are a party to the case.”
“Imagine this: there is a printer which printed more peso bills than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. Will we now recognize that fake money printer as the new Central Bank just because it printed more paper bills than the BSP? Although the new paper bills are fake? ”
He insisted this issue should not be a case of “paramihan.”
“Paramihan, Pero mga fake members naman! This case is an issue of following rules. Following the PDP LABAN constitution. Following Comelec rules of procedure,” related Pimentel. And that only legitimate PDP LABAN members should be allowed to resolve this issue.
“The padding of the membership by outsiders and complete strangers to the party should not be allowed,” further said Pimentel.
Asked on the timing of the release of the Comelec decision made three days before the election, Pimentel said it was made to boost a presidential candidate endorsed by the Cusi group using the PDP LABAN name but who is the total anti-thesis the PDP LABAN.
“The true PDP Laban members will never identify with him,” said. “They are making it hard for us to move or react since it is now a weekend and we are also all moving this weekend to vote in our respective provinces.”
The Comelec Special Second Division’s decision was stated in a resolution released to reporters on Friday.
Earlier, the Cusi faction asked the Comelec to declare illegitimate the PDP LABAN faction led by Pimentel III and Pacquiao.
