After being accused of allowing entry of narco-politicians and causing division in the party, the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), has declared House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as ‘persona non grata.’
The PDP-Laban has issued a resolution declaring Speaker Alvarez as ‘persona non grata’ for acts inimical to the party, according to Rogelio Garcia, former labor undersecretary and party chairman for Region 12, and Cesar Cuntapay, interim president of Southern Mindanao regional council.
The statements of Garcia and Cuntapay were quoted in media reports following complaints of PDP-Laban leaders that Alvarez is conducting an unauthorized nationwide reorganization of the PDP-Laban and recruitment of new members.
Alvarez, secretary general of the PDP-Laban, is touring the country in a recruitment binge for the administration party.
Accordingly, the massive recruitment of new party members by Alvarez has opened the floodgates for entry of narco-politicians.
Alvarez was also accused of creating division in the party’s regional level by replacing old party members with new recruits.
The accusation against Alvarez is doubly serious, and insulting to President Duterte, in that the administration has an ongoing campaign against illegal drugs.
President Duterte has vowed to eradicate the illegal drugs trade that involves police, military and government officials.
Raising fear that the entry of narco-politicians into the administration party could undermine the President’s war on drugs, PDP-Laban regional leaders earlier said they were planning to raise their complaints against Alvarez to President Duterte.
Benito Ranque, PDP-Laban deputy secretary general, said the party is monitoring reports that a number of narco-politicians were able to join the PDP-Laban through Alvarez’s recruitment.
The PDP-Laban will not be a “sanctuary” for narco-politicians, said Ranque, who vowed to continue to oppose Alvarez’s ongoing recruitment.
Some politicians want to become PDP-Laban members thinking they can get away from their misdeeds. But the party will not become their sanctuary, he said.
Speaking out against the Speaker, Cesar Cuntapay, PDP-Laban coordinating council chairman in Mindanao, also opposed the ongoing party reorganization conducted by Alvarez.
Cuntapay said Alvarez is creating instability in the party through his unauthorized recruitment of members and replacing old party members with new recruits.
According to Cuntapay, the reorganization that includes massive recruitment, was not consulted with the national leadership and violated PDP-Laban protocols.
Cuntapay said Alvarez swore in the new members without them going through a basic membership seminar, which is mandated by the PDP-Laban constitution and bylaws.
Cuntapay said PDP-Laban regional leaders would bring up the issues against Alvarez to President Duterte.
THE DURIAN POST 