President Rodrigo Duterte meets members of PDP-Laban on August 9, 2018 amid reports of infighting among officials of the ruling party. Malaca帽ang PHOTO
President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to strengthen the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) for the 2019 polls as he met with the two competing factions of the ruling party Thursday聽night, according to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III.
The President also asked his party mates to hash out their differences by talking to each other, instead of 鈥減ublicly rebelling,鈥� Pimentel said.
Another meeting has been set next month to allow the two groups to iron out the differences, he added.
Nevertheless, Pimentel said the meeting with President Duterte on Thursday was good.
鈥淚t was good because the President mentioned to us his commitment to help the party by campaigning for good candidates,鈥� he told reporters.
He added that President Duterte is looking for competent and honest candidates.
READ: Duterte wants to unify PDP-Laban amid 鈥榠nfighting鈥� 鈥� Palace
Pimentel said the President asked his party mates to focus on PDP-Laban鈥檚 campaign promises, such as pushing for federalism and eliminating crime and corruption.
鈥淭hat means we have to unite. The small issues, if there are questions about party processes, party leadership, publicly rebelling is not the way to do it. He said 鈥榠f there鈥檚 a problem, let us talk,鈥欌�� the senator said.
President Duterte first met with the two groups separately at the Manila Diamond Hotel before addressing them together.
The faction led by Rogelio Garcia held an assembly two weeks ago and elected a new set of officials supposedly to replace Pimentel as party president and Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez as secretary general.
The move had prompted Pimentel鈥檚 group to hold a mass oath takings of new members without requiring them to undergo the basic membership seminar.
Pimentel explained that the party did not authorize the gathering and that he was mulling charges against those involved in besmirching PDP-Laban鈥檚 name. /ee