Tolentino urged to resign as PDP member to concentrate on duty as majority leader

A DAY after he formally assumed the post as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino president, Sen. Robin Padilla yesterday said Sen. Francis Tolentino “may have to resign” from the party so he could concentrate on his new task as Senate majority leader.

“Sen. Francis Tolentino may have to resign from the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) as party vice president for Luzon and as a member so he can attend to his added duties as new Senate majority leader,” Padilla said.

Tolentino readily shot down Padilla’s recommendation, saying: “Let us not talk about politics at this time. It is better if we help one another for the speedy rehabilitation of our countrymen affected by typhoon Carina Let us talk on how we can help them.”

Padilla said Tolentino resigning as a PDP member will do good both to the party and the majority leader’s tasks.

“I humbly propose that it would be good if you resign from PDP. This is to prevent questioning of fairness in addressing issues, especially political ones,” Padilla said in Filipino.

He added that Tolentino’s resignation from the party “would help enhance the party’s independence.

“This would help the party show it is unbiased and independent.

again, I stress I wish nothing else but to support your good work and mission,” Padilla added.

The PDP announced last Wednesday that Padilla had assumed the post of party president after Palawan Second District Rep. Jose Chaves Alvarez resigned after serving for 20 months.

Padilla was the former PDP executive vice president and acting president.

“As the new PDP president, Sen. Padilla will continue to consolidate the party membership and prepare for the 2025 mid-term elections which Rep. Alvarez started,” the PDP said.

“We are confident that under Sen. Padilla’s leadership, the party is in good hands and will continue to be a major force to reform and development in the country,” it added.