MANILA, Philippines — Public office should never be treated as a reward, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) said on Saturday as it opened its national assembly in Davao City, where party members are set to elect new leaders and chart the organization’s direction.
Addressing around 1,000 delegates from across the country, PDP Chairman Alfonso Cusi said the party remains “a party of principle, not of convenience,” and vowed to continue fighting corruption, criminality and what he described as the breakdown of the rule of law.
Cusi said those seeking leadership positions within the party must first earn the trust of members, stressing that nominees “have to be tested before they are entrusted, prepared before they are promoted, and formed before they are followed,” making them leaders worthy of leading the nation.
He also said the PDP would continue to stand with Filipinos calling for accountability against corruption, abuse of power, suppression of dissent and incompetent governance, arguing that these issues are “not merely partisan but national concerns.”
According to Cusi, corruption has real-life consequences for ordinary Filipinos, saying it translates into empty dinner tables, flooded communities, children deprived of classrooms and families losing hope.
Speaking in Filipino, Cusi said the strength of a political party is measured not by the number of its members but by the firmness of its principles, adding that parties formed only out of convenience are easily broken by challenges, while those rooted in conviction remain steadfast over time.
The PDP national assembly is also scheduled to elect national officers, ratify proposed amendments to the party’s constitution, and hear reports from its various committees before the gathering concludes.
