The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP, lit. 'Philippine Democratic Party'), formerly and still commonly referred to as PDP–Laban, is a populist political party in the Philippines founded in 1982. It was previously known as Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan from 1983 to 2024 as a result of a merger with Lakas ng Bayan (Laban). It was part of the country's ruling party coalition from 1986 to 1992 under the administration of Corazon Aquino and served as the country's ruling party from 2016 to 2022 under the administration of Rodrigo Duterte.
Nominally democratic socialist and social democratic, the party has shifted considerably since its first period in power during the 1980s and 1990s. Since Duterte's election as president, the PDP is generally seen as having strayed from its initial social democratic objectives and shifted toward populism and Dutertismo. Officially, Duterte has branded himself, and by extension the party, as occupying the centre-left to left-wing. However, the PDP's policies between 2016 and 2022, including the Philippine drug war and proposals to reinstate the death penalty, have led the party to be labelled as populist, syncretic, or "ideologically malleable." Duterte has been described by many observers as a right-wing populist, while the party itself has been described as synthesizing left-wing populist rhetoric with right-wing populist policy.
Contents
History
First major era (1983–1988)
The party now known as PDP–Laban is the result of a merger between the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino and Lakas ng Bayan.
Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) was founded on February 6, 1982, in Cebu City by Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. and a group of protesters against the authoritarian government of Ferdinand Marcos, the 10th president of the Philippines, and his ruling party, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL). These protesters included the leaders of Cebu City, Davao City and Cagayan de Oro, such as former Cebu 2nd district congressman Antonio Cuenco as the convention's first chairman, Ribomapil Holganza, as the convention's first secretary-general, Zafiro L. Respicio, Rey Magno Teves, Cesar R. Ledesma, Samuel Occeña, Crispin Lanorias and Mords Cua.
Ribomapil Holganza, then the party's Secretary-General, with the support of the other Visayas delegates, proposed the name Katipunan, in honor of the historic Filipino nationalist movement. The convention, however, decided against name proposed by Holganza and decided to retain the name Pilipino Democratic Party. The delegates also created the party's official logo which included the image of Lapu-Lapu as a symbol of the party's adherence to Filipino individualism. The Lapu-Lapu image continues to be a prominent figure in PDP–Laban's logo to this day. The delegates also decided that the Filipino version Partido Demokratiko Pilipino may be used alongside the English version Pilipino Democratic Party.
PDP appealed to the non-communist left, particularly through its emphasis on social democratic principles and organizational participation rather than political personalities Political scientist Alex Magno described PDP as "more advanced… in its analysis of Philippine society and the ills that beset it" compared with the mainstream anti-Marcos groups. PDP was also unique at its time for operating "on the basis of organizational initiative rather than, merely on the basis of personal loyalty to politician-personalities"; and for requiring prospective members to attend a seminar to learn the party's ideology.
In early 1982, talks began between Pimentel Jr. and former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. on the possible merge of PDP with Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN; lit. 'People's Power'), the party founded by Aquino in 1978 for the Interim Batasang Pambansa elections. In a letter sent by Aquino to Senator Lorenzo Tañada dated March 16, Aquino stressed the "umbrella organization" status of LABAN rather than as a political party, being composed of members coming from other political parties. Furthermore, Aquino thought that the merger was not a wise move, given: 1) LABAN's more established name compared to PDP, which was just recently organized; 2) the aforementioned "umbrella organization" status compared to PDP's nature as a political party, and; 3) that some members of LABAN may find the rules of PDP questionable. However, despite these initial concerns, in February 1983, PDP formally merged with LABAN. The merger was complementary, as PDP was mass-based and had its bailiwick in Visayas and Mindanao, while LABAN was composed of traditional politicians and had its bailiwick in Luzon and Metro Manila.
1988–2016
In the Senate, Aquilino Pimentel Jr. had been the person most associated with the party, with him serving multiple terms in the Senate. After he retired, his son Koko Pimentel won an electoral protest to enter the Senate in 2011.
PDP–Laban has become associated with the Binay dynasty of Makati, with Jejomar Binay as its mayor and his allies holding the two districts of Makati in the House of Representatives. Other strongholds of the party include Davao City, where Rodrigo Duterte won multiple terms as mayor.
On July 1, 2015, as part of his bid for the 2016 presidential election, then-Vice President Binay resigned as party chairman and formed the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Since then, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III headed the party as its national president.
Second major era (2016–2021)
The party was re-grouping, and there are some movements of expansion especially in Mindanao, where it originated, particularly in the Davao region. Two of the party's founders, Crispin Lanorias and Cesar Ledesma, are again active in recent party activities. After the 2016 elections, PDP–Laban signed a coalition agreement with the Nacionalista Party, Lakas–CMD, National Unity Party and the Nationalist People's Coalition, witnessed by then president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
Immediately after the May 2016 elections, several representatives from other parties moved to PDP–Laban, notably: Geraldine Roman (Bataan), Alfred Vargas (Quezon City), and Ansaruddin Adiong (Lanao del Sur). The party's presence in the House of Representatives eventually grew from three members in the 16th Congress, to 123 members in the current 17th Congress. By April 2018, 300,000 politicians had joined the party, according to Koko Pimentel.
Reacting to the influx of new members, party founder Nene Pimentel urged members to question the motivations of new incoming politicians and ensure they are interested in the party's ideals. He stated that these new members might only be interested in identifying with the current administration, in order to boost their chances of winning in the upcoming 2019 elections.
PDP–Laban plans to learn from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). It is set to send some of its members to the CCP's school in Fujian for "policy training" to learn more on how the party is organized. The Filipino party also established ties with United Russia, Russia's ruling party, in October 2017. PDP–Laban has also expressed interest in sending a delegation to the Workers' Party of Korea, which is the ruling party of North Korea. A four-member delegation is set to meet with the North Korean party in July 2018.
On July 23, 2018, the same day as Duterte's third State of the Nation Address, an internal leadership dispute within the House of Representatives' majority resulted in former president and current Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo becoming Speaker of the lower house, replacing Pantaleon Alvarez. The resolution was adopted that same night with 184 voting in favor and 12 abstaining. Arroyo was previously a member of Lakas–CMD, before switching to PDP–Laban in 2017.
Post-Duterte administration
Following the end of Rodrigo Duterte's term as president on June 30, 2022, PDP–Laban saw the departure of its members for the majority Lakas–CMD or the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, which is headed by Duterte's successor, Bongbong Marcos.
On April 19, 2024, during the party's national council meeting held at the Nustar Resort and Casino in Cebu City, the Duterte-Cusi faction dropped the "Laban" from its name, reverting to its original name Partido Demokratiko Pilipino. On the same day, it was also announced that it would field incumbent Senators Ronald Dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Francis Tolentino and actor Phillip Salvador for the 2025 Philippine Senate election. Tolentino later resigned from the party in mid-2024 over difference on stance in the South China Sea dispute, leaving Dela Rosa, Go, and Salvador for renomination on September 20. Despite the name change, party vice chairman Alfonso Cusi clarified that "Laban" would be retained in the official party name to avoid complications with the Commission on Elections in the 2025 elections.
Koko Pimentel, the leader of the opposing faction, criticized the rebranding, suggesting that the Duterte-Cusi faction should have created a new party instead, as he believes their actions aimed to erase the party's identity as a "left-of-center" organization.
On September 5, 2024, Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, son of party chairman Rodrigo Duterte, joined the party as its new member and executive vice chairperson.
On September 20, 2024, PDP formally formed an alliance for the 2025 elections with Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan and the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC). Greco Belgica and Pantaleon Alvarez signed the agreement. In October 2024, the initial senatorial nominees—Ronald Dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Phillip Salvador—filed their candidacies for the Senate. Singer Jimmy Bondoc, former Cagayan Economic Zone Authority administrator & CEO Raul Lambino, and lawyer Jayvee Hinlo also filed as the additional senatorial candidates representing the party. Independents Victor Rodriguez, Rodante Marcoleta, and Apollo Quiboloy were also added into the lineup, ending up with nine senatorial candidates. Eric Martinez, the party vice president for Luzon and independent senatorial candidate, opted not to be included in the slate as he intends to "discharge any political bandages." The party launched their senatorial slate's campaign on February 13, 2025, at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Metro Manila. On April 10, 2025, pediatrician and content creator Richard Mata (an independent candidate and Bong Go's uncle) officially joined the slate, completing the "Duter-Ten" lineup (the word "Duter-Ten" is a portmanteau of "Duterte" and "ten", a reference to a ten PDP candidates approved and supported by the former president Rodrigo Duterte). On May 10, 2025, two days before the midterm elections, former Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates Camille Villar and re-electionist and presidential sister Imee Marcos were accepted as the party's guest candidates.
Ideology and platform
Historically, PDP–Laban claimed to be a centre-left or left-wing party that describes itself as a democratic socialist, social-democratic, and populist party. In spite of this, the party is seen as having little to do with the Western concept of democratic socialism. According to scholar Joseph Chinyong Liow, PDP-Laban operates as do many Philippine political parties: "weak, ideologically malleable, and often merely vehicles of personal ambitions", centered around Rodrigo Duterte specifically. Chinyong Liow describes the synthesis of the party under Duterte of left-wing populist rhetoric, such as poverty reduction and consensus decision-making, and right-wing populist actions, such as the Philippine drug war launched upon Duterte taking office. The party has also recently taken influence from the Chinese Communist Party.
It has adopted a preference for bilateral dialogue with China when it comes to resolving the South China Sea dispute.
The party also has federalist tendencies. The party advocates a transition to a federal, presidential form of government from the current unitary presidential system through a revision of the present 1987 Constitution of the Philippines. According to self-published materials, the party seeks a peaceful and democratic way of life characterized by "freedom, solidarity, justice, equity, social responsibility, self-reliance, efficiency and enlightened nationalism". It has touted as its five guiding principles the following: theism, authentic humanism, enlightened nationalism, democratic socialism, and consultative and participatory democracy. The context of its espoused ideology has been in dispute, however, due to the party's recent pro-China, pro-Russia and North Korea-friendly stance since Duterte's rise in the party.
Symbols
From the 1980s, the 'Laban' or 'L' sign was a hand gesture used by the party, along with other members of the UNIDO coalition, which originally supported Corazon Aquino. This was done by raising the thumb and index finger over the forehead, forming a letter "L' shape. This was popularized during the People Power Revolution. During the campaign and presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, the Laban sign fell into disuse within PDP–Laban and was replaced with a clenched fist, a gesture popularized by Duterte. The clenched fist was later included in the party's current logo.
Party officials
As of August 2026:
President: Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte
Executive Vice President: Atty. Jimmy Bondoc
Chairman: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte
Vice Chairman: Former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi
Vice President for NCR: Penny Belmonte
Vice President for Luzon: Joseph Edward Villareal
Vice President for Visayas: Former Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama
Vice President for Mindanao: Representative Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles
Vice President for International Relations: Atty. Raul Lambino
Secretary-General: Atty. Wendel Avisado
Treasurer: Atty. Aimee Torrefranca-Neri
Auditor: Senator Bong Go
Executive Director: Joseph “Joy” Encabo
Elected members
Candidates for Philippine general elections
2016
Rodrigo Duterte for president (formally announced candidacy on November 21, 2015 and officially filed Certificate of Candidacy on November 27 and December 8) – WON
Martin Diño (filed his candidacy on October 16, 2015, withdrawn on October 29)
Alan Peter Cayetano for vice president
2019
Ronald dela Rosa – WON
Bong Go – WON
Dong Mangudadatu – LOST
Koko Pimentel – WON
Francis Tolentino – WON
2022
The party under Cusi wing endorsed the UniTeam ticket of Bongbong Marcos for president and Sara Duterte for vice president. Senator Ronald dela Rosa filed his candidacy as the party's official candidate for president but withdrew shortly thereafter.