Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Monday warned of a "power grab" within PDP-Laban as rifts within the party continue to surface ahead of the 2022 elections.
Pimentel, who serves as PDP-Laban executive vice chairman, said their camp was the natural continuation of the party. His father, former Sen. Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr., was the founder of PDP-Laban.
"We will continue acting that we are PDP-Laban. Ang continuation sa amin e," he told reporters in a virtual interview.
"If ever may changes na mangyari, it’s a power grab. Is it the legitimate will of the party?" he added.
Members of PDP-Laban led by party vice chairman and Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi who are campaigning for the vice presidential candidacy of President Rodrigo Duterte will push through with their national assembly on July 17.
Cusi earlier said an election could take place during the national assembly meeting, but he said removing Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who is at odds with some members of PDP-Laban, as party president was not part of the agenda.
Pimentel, who supports Pacquiao, said the July 17 national assembly was unauthorized, adding that their camp would not attend it.
He said they would not let members who only joined the party after Duterte took office in 2016 take over PDP-Laban. He earlier claimed that there was a "secret agenda" where the presidential nomination of the party would be "gifted" to an outsider.
"We will stick to the party constitution. Those trying to grab power are not genuine members of the party. Ang concern namin is not to really to win the presidency, but it’s the longevity of the party," he said.
Pacquiao and the PDP-Laban National Executive Committee earlier adopted a resolution expelling Cusi from the party for allegedly "showing allegiance" to another political faction.
Although the July 17 national assembly will push through, Pimentel urged their partymates to attend the meeting they have set up for September.