MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the leadership of Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag in Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), settling the long-running dispute with the faction of former senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the SC en banc dismissed the petition of Pimentel and Pacquiao questioning the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) recognition of the Cusi-led group.

The dispute stemmed from events in 2021, when PDP Laban was chaired by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, with Cusi as vice-chairperson. Pacquiao had declared his plan to run for president under the party, but Cusi allegedly convened meetings with local leaders and backed a different candidate outside the party.

This prompted the National Executive Committee (Committee), led by Pimentel and Pacquiao, to seek Cusi’s expulsion. On May 31, 2021, however, the National Council met in Cebu City with Cusi presiding upon Duterte’s authorization. During the meeting, Matibag was appointed Acting Secretary General.

The Pimentel-led Committee responded by expelling Cusi and Matibag, declaring their positions vacant, and naming Pimentel acting chairperson due to Duterte’s “continued absence and incapacity.”

The conflict escalated when the Cusi group held a national assembly on July 17, 2021, attended by Duterte, where new officers were elected, including Cusi as president. The Pimentel group later held its own assembly on September 19, 2021, proclaiming Pacquiao as its presidential candidate.

The Cusi faction filed a petition before the COMELEC, which ruled in their favor—a decision now affirmed by the SC.

The high court ruled that under PDP Laban’s constitution, the vice-chairperson may assume the duties of the chairperson in cases of absence or incapacity. Duterte had authorized Cusi to preside over the May 31 meeting through a May 17, 2021 memorandum.

The SC also said the meeting was valid despite allegations of irregularities, noting that 126 of 162 voting members—or 80 percent—were present, far exceeding the required 40 percent quorum. Under the party’s constitution, defects in notice do not invalidate proceedings if quorum requirements are met.

Because the May 31 meeting was valid, the SC said the actions taken during and after it, including the July 17 assembly, were likewise valid. It added that the Committee led by Pimentel and Pacquiao had no authority to expel Cusi and Matibag or appoint Pimentel as acting chairperson, making such actions void.