Unification of PDP-Laban factions eyed

While confirming efforts to reunify two factions of the once-ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) political party, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said his "side of the party is wary and hesitant." The once dominant party was split into two factions before the 2022 elections, with one faction led by party chairman and then president Rodrigo Duterte and the other by party president and then senator Manny Paquiao.

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Pimentel, son of party founder and namesake, sided with Pacquiao.

Sen. Robinhood Padilla recently disclosed a possible unification of the two factions, saying he is "courting" Pimentel to mend fences with officers and members of the faction led by Duterte.

"There have been efforts but my side of the party is wary and hesitant," Pimentel said when asked by The STAR about reunification moves. He did not elaborate.

In preparation for the 2022 presidential elections, the Duterte-led faction ousted the younger Pimentel as the party's executive chair, together with Pacquiao as the party's titular head.