MANILA, Philippines (Updated 4:53 p.m.) — Sen. Manny Pacquiao is saved by the bell.
The boxer-turned-senator remains with the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan as the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi is letting him defend himself first before imposing any sanctions.
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Melvin Matibag, secretary general of PDP-Laban's Cusi wing, said the party's national executive council will give notice to Pacquiao of the complaint lodged against him, will allow him to respond to these charges and will give him a fair hearing.
The complaint filed by Reymar Masilungan, chair of the livelihood committee of PDP-Laban's Cusi faction, against Pacquiao and his brother, Rep. Rogelio Pacquiao (Sarangani), alleges that they committed disloyalty when they supposedly planned to convert their regional party, the People's Champ Movement, into a national party.
The PDP-Laban faction led by Pacquiao denied this, saying that the People's Champ Movement remains to be a local party and that the senator has stepped down as its president.
But for the Cusi faction, mere intent to turn his local party into a national party is enough grounds for him to be expelled.
Matibag went as far as saying that Pacquiao has "technically expelled himself."
He said that the conversion of People's Champ Movement into a national party is a violation of Article VII, Section 6 of PDP-Laban's constitution that prohibits "taking an oath of membership in or allegiance to any other political party" and "maintaining a membership in another political party even after induction into PDP-Laban."
"The effect of the good senator's (Pacquiao) allegiance to PCM is automatic expulsion from the ruling party which, fortunately or unfortunately, he has brought upon himself," Matibag said.
Matibag told a press conference that they aim to resolve the case of Pacquiao and his brother before the filing of candidacies on October 1, but assured that they will be given due process.
Pacquiao, however, is expected to snub these proceedings by the Cusi faction, which his group have called "usurpers and expelled members of PDP-Laban."
Just a bluff?
Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, son of the late Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. who founded PDP-Laban, said that the party's constitution "has consistently been interpreted by knowledgeable leaders of the party over the decades not to prohibit membership in the party and membership in a regional political party at the same time."
"Hence, this issue is all a bluff meant to distract Senator Manny Pacquiao from his world championship boxing bout," Pimentel said, in reference to the upcoming boxing match of Pacquiao on August 22 (Philippine time).
Matibag said while this is true, the case of Pacquiao differs as he supposedly moved to convert People's Champ Movement into a national party.
Should Pacquiao be kicked out from PDP-Laban, it would be the latest blow to the political career of the boxer who supposedly has his eyes set on the presidency in the 2022 elections, where he might go against President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and his former longtime aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
In July, the Cusi faction knocked out Pacquiao as the party’s president in a national assembly that the senator’s camp branded as “illegal.”
The two groups, both claiming to be the legitimate PDP-Laban, have separately submitted lists of their party officers to the Commission on Elections.
The poll body is expected to decide which of the two PDP-Laban factions is the legitimate ruling party based on who among them followed party rules.