Pacquiao orders PDP-Laban members to ignore Cusi's call for party assembly

Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao has issued a memorandum directing PDP-Laban members to &quot;ignore&quot; Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi&#x27;s call for a national assembly by the end of the month, the party confirmed Thursday.</p><p>In a memorandum dated May 25, Pacquiao, who is party president, &quot;strongly advised&quot; his party-mates not to heed &quot;Cusi&#x27;s letter calling for a national assembly on May 31, 2021.&quot;</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">PDP-Laban Executive Director <a href="https://twitter.com/RonMunsayac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RonMunsayac</a> confirms this memo of Sen <a href="https://twitter.com/MannyPacquiao?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MannyPacquiao</a>, where he &quot;strongly advised&quot; partymates not to attend the May 31 National Assembly called by Vice Chairman Alfonso Cusi. <a href="https://t.co/5krr8Mdj5x">pic.twitter.com/5krr8Mdj5x</a></p>— sherrie ann torres (@sherieanntorres) <a href="https://twitter.com/sherieanntorres/status/1397816483229573120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>&quot;Yes, this is a legitimate memorandum from the national headquarters,&quot; PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac said when asked about the document that has been circulating on social media.</p><p>&quot;Any call for a national council and/or assembly must be approved by both the chairman and the president only,&quot; read a highlighted part of Pacquiao&#x27;s memorandum. </p><p>The ruling party&#x27;s chairman is President Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Munsayac did not give details on why Cusi is calling for an assembly about 5 months before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2022 national elections.</p><p>In March, Pacquiao warned Cusi not to sow division within the ruling party after the energy chief and his allies allegedly pushed Duterte to run for vice president in the upcoming elections.</p><p>&quot;Si Cusi naman, hindi ako nakikipagaway sa iyo [pero] hindi ako ang tao na puwede mo lang laru-laruin,&quot; Pacquiao said in a press conference.</p><p>(As for Cusi, I am not quarreling with you but I am not the person you can toy with.)</p><p>&quot;Kung umiikot ka, pulitika pinaguusapan mo, &#x27;wag mo lasunin ang mga utak ng mga miyembro ng partido para magkahiwa-hiwalay,&quot; he said.</p><p>(If you are going around the country talking about politics, do not poison the minds of party members and sow division.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/21/pacquiao-warns-cusi-do-not-divide-pdp-laban">Pacquiao warns Cusi: Do not divide PDP-Laban</a></li></ul><p>Earlier this month, Pacquiao denied that there was a rift within the ruling party, saying members had cordial relations.</p><p>&quot;So far, maganda naman &#x27;yung relation namin sa PDP-Laban. Nagco-communicate tayo sa kanila from time to time,&quot; the senator said.</p><p>(So far, our relationship within PDP-Laban is good. We communicate with them from time to time.)</p><p>&quot;Okay naman sila. Nananatili sila sa PDP-Laban. Wala naman akong nakikita sa ngayon [na paksyon],&quot; he said.</p><p>(They are okay. They are still with PDP-Laban. I don&#x27;t see any factions as of now.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/03/21/pacquiao-says-no-rift-within-pdp-laban-as-2022-national-elections-near">Pacquiao says no rift within PDP-Laban as 2022 national elections near</a></li></ul><p>Several senators earlier said Pacquiao intends to become PDP-Laban&#x27;s standard bearer next year. </p><p>Cusi&#x27;s bloc had allegedly sought members&#x27; signatures to convince the incumbent Philippine president to run as vice president next year. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/12/21/not-legitimate-pacquiao-says-of-pdp-laban-members-push-for-duterte-vice-presidential-bid">&#x27;Not legitimate,&#x27; Pacquiao says of PDP-Laban members&#x27; push for Duterte vice-presidential bid</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/21/duterte-says-bong-go-wants-to-be-president">Duterte says Bong Go wants to be President</a></li></ul><div><strong> RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1638831" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><div> </div>

<p>PDP-Laban on Thursday confirmed that party president Sen. Manny Pacquiao has issued a memorandum directing the ruling party's members to "ignore" Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi's call for a national assembly by the end of the month.</p>

PDP-Laban on Thursday confirmed that party president Sen. Manny Pacquiao has issued a memorandum directing the ruling party's members to "ignore" Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi's call for a national assembly by the end of the month.

Pacquiao orders PDP-Laban members to ignore Cusi's call for party assembly | ABS-CBN

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Pacquiao orders PDP-Laban members to ignore Cusi's call for party assembly

Pacquiao orders PDP-Laban members to ignore Cusi's call for party assembly

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 27, 2021 04:23 PM PHT

Read More:

PDP-Laban

Manny Pacquiao

Alfonso Cusi

politics

2022 elections

Halalan 2022

Ron Munsayac

Pacquiao Cusi

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