PDP-Laban to meet with China's Communist Party

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED 3:40 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte's Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is set to meet with the Communist Party of China in Beijing this month.

PDP-Laban is scheduled to meet with China's ruling political party from January 22 to 25, according to a report from The STAR.

The meeting between the two parties seeks to deepen exchanges and boost mutual trust and friendship between the Philippines and China.

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi will lead the PDP-Laban delegation in Beijing.

Close Ad X

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, president of PDP-Laban, later confirmed that the two parties will meet in Beijing, but insisted that the meeting will not have adverse effects to the country.

Pimentel said that the gathering will serve "to strengthen ties between the two parties," the STAR reported.

Meanwhile, former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Efraim Genuino asked anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to allow him to join PDP-Laban in Beijing.

Genuino is facing graft charges for allegedly spending P37 million in public funds to pay for the training venue of athletes of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association for the London Olympic Games from 2007 to 2009.

The former Pagcor chairman will join the delegation in Beijing as chair of PDP-Laban's finance committee.

Genuino also asked the court to allow him to go to Hong Kong from January 27 to 30 for a short vacation. — Patricia Lourdes Viray with reports from Elizabeth Marcelo