Senator Manny Pacquiao urged the members of PDP-Laban to ignore the endorsement of Alfonso Cusi's wing to the presidential bid of his rival, Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. in the upcoming national elections.
In an ambush interview with reporters, Pacquiao said supporting Marcos' bid is a slap to the legacy of the political party, which was formed to oppose the regime of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the father and namesake of Marcos Jr.
“Baka nalimutan ni Cusi na ang PDP ay nabuo against sa Marcos regime. Baka nakalimutan lang niya. Lahat ng miyembro ng PDP, huwag po natin sundin si Cusi," the senator said when asked in reaction to the endorsement.
[Maybe Cusi forgot that PDP was made to go against the Marcos regime. Maybe he just forgot. I appeal to all members of PDP-Laban, do not follow Cusi.]
"Parang isang sampal para sa mga miyembro ng PDP. So para sa akin, iyong mga PDP members, h'wag po nating sundin si Cusi dahil parang sampal sa mga miyembro ng PDP ‘yan," he added.
[It's like a slap to the members of PDP. For me, the members of PDP-Laban should not follow Cusi because this is a slap to the PDP.]
Pacquiao is the president of the PDP-Laban's Pimentel faction. However, he is running as PROMDI Party’s presidential bet after the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) questioned the legitimacy of Cusi's faction.
According to the senator, Cusi should rethink his decision if he really has any care for the party.
“Kung totoo siyang nagmamahal sa partido, isipin niyang mabuti yung ginagawa niya. Pag isipan niyang mabuti kung itutuloy niya yang pagsusupport sa Marcoses. Ang mga ideas nitong PDP ay para sa bayan. Para sa mga mahihirap. Nabuo ito para sa bayan, para sa bawat Pilipino,” Pacquiao said.
[If he really cares about the party, he should think about his actions. He should rethink the move to support Marcos. The idea of the PDP Laban is for the nation, for the poor. It was created for the Filipinos.]
