SC recognizes Cusi-Matibag as rightful PDP-Laban leaders
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has resolved the leadership dispute within Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), ruling in favor of the faction led by former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag.
In a decision promulgated on July 8, 2025, penned by Supreme Court Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, the high court dismissed the petition filed by former senators Koko Pimentel III and Manny Pacquiao, which assailed the Commission on Elections’ recognition of the Cusi group.
The case stemmed from a 2021 rift within the political party, which at the time was chaired by former president Rodrigo Duterte with Cusi as vice chairperson.
The dispute began when Pacquiao, then party president, announced his intention to run for president in the 2022 elections.
At the same time, Cusi was accused of endorsing a different, non-party member candidate, leading to his and Matibag's expulsion by the Pimentel-Pacquiao group.
The high court said that it upheld the legitimacy of the Cusi-Matibag faction by validating the May 31, 2021, meeting that the Pimentel group had questioned.
The Supreme Court clarified that under the PDP-Laban constitution, the vice chairperson is authorized to take over the chairman's duties in their absence.
This was further supported by a May 17, 2021, memorandum from Duterte explicitly authorizing Cusi to lead the meeting.
Despite claims of procedural issues, such as a lack of coordination with Pacquiao and defective notices, the high court determined that the meeting was valid due to the presence of a proper quorum.
With 126 of 162 voting members in attendance, the 80% turnout far exceeded the required 40%. The court also noted that the party's constitution states that proceedings are not invalidated by defects in notice if a quorum is present, according to the Supreme Court.
“Considering that the National Council meeting held on May 31, 2021 is valid, the resolutions passed and acts done by the Cusi-led faction during the said meeting, some of which led to the conduct of the July 16, 2021 National Council meeting and July 17, 2021 National Assembly, are likewise valid, having been agreed upon by the chairman and the overwhelming majority of the National Council membership,” the court’s ruling read.
The high court further pointed out that the actions of the Pimentel group, including the expulsion of Cusi and Matibag, were void as their committee lacked the authority to do so under the party's constitution.
“More importantly, Cusi and Matibag's expulsion for their unjustified failure and/or refusal to help, aid, assist, and/or campaign for the official candidate of the Party requires the two thirds vote of all the members of the disciplining authority-a requirement which was hot complied with. Consequently, the NEC's issuance of NEC Resolution No. 06 expelling them from PDP-Laban is ultra vires,” the court’s ruling read.
- Latest
- Trending
