SC affirms Comelec ruling recognizing Cusi faction as legitimate PDP-Laban leadership

The Supreme Court has affirmed the Commission on Elections' ruling recognizing the faction led by former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Melvin Matibag as the legitimate leadership of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) Laban.

This decision resolves the leadership dispute between the Cusi faction and the group of former Senators Koko Pimentel and Manny Pacquiao.

The SC upheld the Comelec's decision favoring the Cusi group, with Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao penning the ruling on 8 July 2025.

The Court emphasized that the party's vice chairperson, Cusi, had the authority to perform functions assigned by the National Council in the absence or incapacity of the chairperson.

The SC declared void the actions taken by the Pimentel group, including the expulsion of Cusi and Matibag and the appointment of Pimentel as acting chairperson, as the committee lacked such constitutional powers.

The Supreme Court held that the 31 May 2021 meeting, where Matibag was installed as acting secretary general, was valid because of the 80 percent attendance, which exceeded the required 40 percent quorum.

The ruling also stated that former President Rodrigo Duterte's candidacy under a different party in 2022 does not invalidate his role as PDP-Laban chairman in previous party meetings.