Former ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is taking steps to unify its factions, Senator Robin Padilla said.
Padilla, together with Senator Christopher Go, represent one faction from the side of former President Rodrigo Duterte, while the other side is led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and former senator Manny Pacquiao.
“I court him [Pimentel] every single day. Every day, I tell him: ‘Boss, let us just unite in the PDP,’” Padilla said.
The split in the ruling party started when the Duterte camp held its own national assembly, claimed party leadership, and refused to endorse the presidential bid of Pacquiao in 2022.
He said the ongoing talks with Pimentel have the blessing of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Even before, we were given the freedom to speak with Senator Koko,” he said.
Go said the talks are still “in the consultation stage” and cannot yet be considered “formal.”
Pimentel’s father, former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., established PDP-Laban with the late senator Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1982 as an opposition coalition.
Since Duterte’s term ended, several members of PDP-Laban have bolted the political party to join the Lakas Christian-Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
Reps. Divine Grace Yu (Zamboanga del Sur, First District) and Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo (Lanao del Norte, First District), both formerly of PDP-Laban, took their oath as members of Lakas-CMD earlier this week.
Before that,10 former PDP-Laban officials and members also joined Lakas-CMD, namely Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga Rep. Carmelo Lazatin II, Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa, Parañaque City 1st District Rep. Edwin Olivares, Pasay City Lone District Rep. Antonino Calixto;
Zamboanga del Norte 2nd District Rep. Glona Labadlabad, Cebu 2nd District Rep. Eduardo Roa Rama Jr., Camarines Norte 2nd District Rep. Rosemarie Conejos Panotes, Agusan del Norte 2nd District Rep. Dale Corvera, and Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Mary Mitzi Cajayon-Uy. with Macon Ramos-Araneta