Koko: PDP members tagged in drugs will get the boot

PDP Laban President and Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III on Saturday said that members of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino - Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban) who are tagged in the drug list of Party Chairman President Rodrigo Duterte will be suspended, and once confirmed to be involved in illegal drugs, shall be expelled.

Pimentel made the statement in support of Duterte's declaration on Thursday that membership in the ruling party will not help politicians who are part of the drug trade.

"There is zero tolerance for politicians who use their position to spread harm among the people, even if they are members of the Party", said Pimentel.

Pimentel explained that membership in the Party is a privilege reserved for those who actively support the Party's principles and policies in words and deeds.

The Party chief said, "The continued existence of the illegal drug trade is contrary to the principles of the Party. You are not a true member of PDP Laban if you defy our Chairman's campaign against illegal drugs."

Pimentel said that the Party Vice-Chairman, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, will spearhead efforts to purge the Party's ranks of corrupt elements.

Cusi is the head of the Party's Discipline Committee.

Pimentel said, "As the President and our Chairman said, if you are unfairly linked to the drug trade, you will be given the chance to clear your name. However, no help will come to you if we can confirm the allegations."

The Party President said that the rapid expansion of PDP Laban, which was swamped with thousands of applications, allowed these questionable members to enter the Party, but with the Party's multi-step membership review process, these individuals will be eventually identified and removed.