PDP-Laban faction elects new leaders; Pimentel shrugs off

MANILA — A group within the ruling Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan elected new set of officers in a gathering described by the party's president, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, as an unauthorized event.

In a gathering in Quezon City Friday, the faction replaced Pimentel with Rogelio Garcia as the party's president.

Garcia claimed they are the genuine members of PDP, according to a tweet report of News5.

“Aping-api na ang totoong miyembro na hindi pinapansin ng mga nasa taas,” he said.

Pimentel, however, shrugged off the gathering.

“Let them enjoy themselves since they have media coverage,” he told Philstar.com in a text message.

Pimentel, along with PDP-Laban vice chairman Sec. Alfonso Cusi and secretary general Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez earlier notified the party members that the “national assembly” and other activities that would be conducted by individuals who represent themselves as officers of the PDPLaban National Council were not “officially sanctioned by party.”

“We wish to inform the party members and the public that these individuals have no authority to represent the party or its National Council and are therefore usurpers of party authority and shall be dealt with in accordance with existing election and criminal laws and party rules,” the officials said.