PDP-Laban not out to ‘learn communism’ in CPC partnership

“We are learning from each other so the best way to learn from each other is to be together, to have activities together,” said Pimentel. (Photo: By Albert Calvelo – Public Relation and Information Bureau (original here), Senate of the Philippines, Public Domain)

MANILA— Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Thursday said the partnership between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) does not necessarily mean that the country’s ruling party would adopt the latter’s ideology.

In an interview after the thematic briefing on the 19th National Congress of CPC in Sofitel Manila, Pimentel said the two ruling parties in their respective states are trying “to learn from each other.”

“Hindi naman sa communism but sa istilo, governance style and strategies (it’s not about communism but about the style and strategies in government)” he said.

Pimentel said that another delegation from the PDP-Laban will fly to China by March or April.

“We are sending (in March) and we have already sent last year, two delegations and two official visits from me,” Pimentel added.

“It will be on governance, they will visit communities that were lifted out of poverty, they will go to party schools, etc.,” Pimentel said.

During his China trip last year, Pimentel visited the CPC Central Party School, which trains top government officials and CPC members in matters of governance and public administration.

Pimentel said he expressed optimism of setting the school as an example in training party members on issues of governance and party ideology.

“We are learning from each other so the best way to learn from each other is to be together, to have activities together,” said Pimentel.

“They came here, sometimes we go to China,” he said.

Aside from the thematic briefing presided by the CPC delegation, PDP-Laban also held the oath taking of its members during the event.

PDP-Laban, the political party where President Rodrigo Duterte is chairman, advocates theism, humanism, enlightened nationalism, democratic socialism, participatory and consultative democracy, and federalism.