By Jillian Marielle Tiraña

PHOTO: PCOO

President Rodrigo Duterte was “overstaying” in his position as PDP-Laban chairman according to the party’s executive director, Ron Munsayac, in a virtual interview on Monday.

Munsayac said that according to party rules, leaders are only given a maximum of two years to stay in their position. Duterte, along with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, had been the party’s chairman and vice-chairman since 2016.

“Noong nag-meeting po ang national council kahapon, napagdesisyunan po na lahat ng mga kapartido namin na, I think, oras na po magkaroon ng bagong leadership ng PDP-Laban,” Munsayac said.

He also denies the possibility of this causing a further rift in the party, claiming that Duterte knows the party supports him.

“We supported him since day one nung campaign niya at administration niya, at ngayong patapos na ang term niya, we will support him until the last day of his term,” Munsayac explained.



Meanwhile, Munsayac said that he knows the party’s newly elected chair, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, will take care of PDP-Laban not only in the present but also in future generations.

The director also talked about a recent feud between two factions in PDP-Laban, saying that the group led by Senator Manny Pacquiao did not reach out to Munsayac.

“Kung ang dati nilang partido ay nadidiktahan nila sa pera o nadidiktahan nila sa kapangyarihan or nauutusan nila, hindi po kami ganon. Ibahin po nila ang PDP-Laban,” Munsayac stated.

He also said that PDP-Laban is preparing and expecting to bring this case to the Supreme Court, adding that he trusts the Commision on Elections and Supreme Court to look at the merits of the case.

He adds that they have been through matters like this every election period since 1988, calling it a “blessing and a curse”.