THE Supreme Court has finally resolved the leadership row in the PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan) political party, recognizing the group led by former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag as its legitimate leaders.
In a 25-pages decision penned by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao dated July 8 but released to the public last September 17, the SC, meeting En Banc, dismissed the petition filed by former Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, which questioned the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) recognition of the Cusi-led group.
It can be recalled that the dispute arose over Pacquiao’s decision to run for president in the 2022 national elections as PDP-Laban standard bearer.
At the time, however, the party is chaired by former President Rodrigo Duterte with Cusi as vice chair who are not keen in supporting Pacquiao’s candidacy.
The party’s national executive council headed by Pimentel and Pacquiao then expelled Cusi and Matibag while Pimentel took over from the former president as party chairman due to the latter’s “continued absence and incapacity.
Matibag was earlier appointed party secretary general during a national council meeting held in Cebu City on May 31, 2021, that was attended by President Duterte via video conference.
President Duterte eventually attended the party’s national assembly on July 17 where Cusi was elected as party president.
In a petition the ‘Cusi Wing’ later filed before the COMELEC, the poll body decided to recognize his group as the legitimate leaders of PDP-Laban.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court said Cusi convening the May 31 national council meeting did not violate the party’s constitution and by-laws.
“Even if there were procedural issues—such as a lack of coordination with Pacquiao or defective meeting notices—the SC ruled that the meeting was valid because a proper quorum was present,” reads part of the court’s press statement.
It noted that out of 162 voting members, 126 (or 80 percent) attended, which far exceeds the required 40 percent quorum in the party’s charter.
Additionally, according to the party’s constitution, any defect in giving notice does not invalidate proceedings if a quorum exists.
“Because the May 31 meeting was valid, the actions taken during and after it—including the July 17 national assembly—were also valid,” the SC said.
The defeat of Pacquiao in the presidential contest where he ended up as an ‘independent candidate’ is a back-to-back loss for him as it came after his failed welterweight championship fight against Yordenis Ugas of Cuba in September 2021.