NANANATILING chairman ng ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) si Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

Kaagad na nagpalabas ng kalatas si PDP-Laban secretary-general Melvin Matibag matapos iboto ng paksyon na pinangungunahan ni Senador Manny Pacquiao si elected Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III bilang party chair, sinasabing para palitan si Pangulong Duterte.

Inilarawan naman ni Matibag ang bagong development na ito na isang “comedy”, sabay sabing si Pimentel ay hindi kumakatawan sa partido.

“It’s a comedy. Sen. Koko Pimentel has no position in the PDP Laban. He is irrelevant and he does not represent the party. His group are pretenders and are attention seekers,” ani Matibag.

“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is the PDP Laban party chairman. He remains to be so and will continue to be so,” dagdag na pahayag nito.

Sinabi naman ni PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac na ang “original” PDP-Laban ay naghalal ng bagong party officials sa isang national council, Linggo ng tanghali.

Sa isang text message, si dating Eastern Samar governor Lutgardo Barbo ang nahalal bilang vice-chair.

Noong Hulyo ng taong kasalukuyan, pinatalsik ng grupo ni Secretary Alfonso Cusi si Pacquiao bilang PDP-Laban president. (CHRISTIAN DALE)