Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on November 13, 2023. Voltaire F. Domingo, Senate PRIB/File

MANILA — Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Thursday fired back at the PDP-Laban faction led by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which reportedly slammed him for still using personalized stationery with the party's name on it.

Pimentel pointed out that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling recognizing the Duterte faction over his remains under question before the Supreme Court.

"Yung decision ng Comelec... under dispute pa sa Supreme Court. So malay natin, mari-reverse pa 'yan," he said.

He added that Alfonso Cusi, who previously led the other faction, had told him that he was not being kicked out of the party.

PDP-Laban stalwart Pimentel: Why take over party just to change it?

"Eh sira pala ang ulo nila. Sasabihin nila sa akin na hindi pa nila ako kini-kick out sa party, tapos aangal sila na andoon pa sa existing stationery ko 'yung PDP-Laban," Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that he has every right to use the name of the party that was founded by his father.

"Bakit aangal ngayon sila kung gamit ko pa ang PDP-Laban na partido ko namang tunay 'yan, partido ng father ko at ako bumuhay niyan," Pimentel said.

Pimentel explained that for his candidacy for Marikina representative in the May elections, he opted to use the CONA of Nacionalista party, which was allowed by his partymates at the "original" PDP-Laban. 

"Yung Nacionalista, certificate of nomination (CONA) ko... Yung PDP-Laban wing ko, they gave me permission na for the purposes of the May 2025 elections, we can use another party's CONA," he said.

He said they did this to possibly avoid legal complications.

Pimentel blasts Cusi wing’s dropping of 'Laban' in PDP-Laban name

"So lahat po 'yan, anticipated na namin 'yan... So we are still with PDP-Laban in case we win the case sa Supreme Court, we are ready to assume leadership, legally speaking, of our own party. But in the meantime, 'yung paggamit namin ng other parties' CONA, allowed by our original faction of the PDP Laban in a national assembly, very specific, plus alam din po nung hosting party," Pimentel said.

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