Senator Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel III is willing to give up his post in President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) but not to Rogelio Garcia.
鈥溾�楧i naman ako kapit-tuko sa position at titulo. Pero bakit ba siya ang kakain sa tinanim, inani linuto at hinanda namin? Bakit siya?鈥� Pimentel told reporters in a Viber message on Friday. He was referring to Garcia, who was elected president of a PDP-Laban faction last July 27.
Pimentel, who is also president of the ruling political party, said he has no issue with relinquishing his position to someone who has worked hard for the party.
鈥淜ung ang kakain ay kasama naming naghirap sa pagpapalaki ng partido ay wala tayong masasabi dyan. Wag naman yung short cut at jackpot agad. Magbanat din po ng buto,鈥� he said.
Duterte met with Pimentel and Garcia鈥檚 groups last Thursday night, and the chief executive vowed to strengthen the party for the 2019 polls, according to Pimentel.
Pimentel also said the President has set for Sept. 1 another 鈥渕ore formal鈥� meeting between the two factions.
搁贰础顿:听 Duterte vows to strengthen PDP-Laban for 2019 polls
Meanwhile, Pimentel said he had 鈥渘o personal knowledge鈥� on whether Garcia鈥檚 group got a scolding or a recognition from Duterte聽as they were met by the President separately.
However, Garcia said they felt 鈥渧indicated,鈥� claiming Duterte has 鈥渞ecognized the existence鈥� of their group with 鈥渧alid and legitimate issues.鈥�
鈥淗e recognizes our existence as a group with valid and legitimate issues when he said we shall continue to have a dialogue to find solutions to [the] problems,鈥� he told 黑料社. 鈥淎 vindication of sorts.鈥�
READ: PDP-Laban faction leader felt 鈥榲indicated鈥� after Duterte recognizes them
Two weeks ago, Garcia鈥檚 group held an assembly and elected their new national officers, booting out Pimentel and Alvarez as president and secretary general, respectively.
The group also elected Special Assistant to the President Christopher 鈥淏ong鈥� Go as interim national auditor.
READ: PDP-Laban鈥檚 鈥榞enuine party members鈥� elect new execs; Bong Go is auditor
However, Pimentel had dismissed this assembly as unauthorized, and organized by 鈥渞ogue鈥� and 鈥渆xpelled鈥� members 鈥渨ho will be dealt with in accordance with (their) party rules.鈥澛� 聽/vvp
搁贰础顿:听Koko Pimentel dismisses PDP chapter assembly聽