Communists mourn death of Nene Pimentel

LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines – The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) mourns the death of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. and remembers him as a friend of the communist rebel movement.

“Pimentel was a patriot, a democrat and friend of the Philippine revolution,” the CPP said in a statement issued Sunday night.

The communist group noted that Pimentel was one who locked arms with the Filipino people in their fight against the US-Marcos dictatorship, detained several times and was accused of helping the underground movement.

Pimentel founded the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP) to oppose former strongman Marcos during the dictatorship.

“The Filipino people and youth thank him for keeping alive memories of past struggles. His life story inspires the people in their present resistance to tyranny,” the CPP said.

The CPP also remembered Pimentel as one of the “Magnificent 12” senators who voted against the renewal of the lopsided 1947 Military Bases Agreement.

“He has steadfastly opposed efforts to distort Philippine history and depict Marcos as a hero,” the CPP said of Pimentel.

The CPP and all revolutionary forces extended their sympathies to the family and friends of the former senator, the statement said.

Pimentel Jr., the father of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, died at 5 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20.

His death came less than a week after he was put in an intensive care unit (ICU) last Oct. 14. He was 85 years old.

/atm