Supporters travel 3 hours to visit late senator Nene Pimentel’s wake

MANILA, Philippines — Knowing that this may be the last time that they would see late senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., some of his supporters traveled for three hours to visit his wake.

For Irma Alfonso, a supporter who trekked from Laguna to Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig City, her fondest memory of Pimentel was during a boodle fight she once shared with the late senator in one of his visits to the province.

“Walang kaarte-arte yan. Sobrang cowboy… kamayan kami. Paboritong paborito niya ‘yung sinigang na sardinas. Simpleng pagkain—talong, alamang. Okay lang yan. Waling kaarte-arte sa kanya,” Alfonso told INQUIRER.net.

Thus, when she learned that Pimentel was hospitalized and put in the intensive care unit (ICU), all they could do is pray for the senator’s healing.

“Nagpray kami. Kaso [nung namatay siya], sabi namin, parang may panghihinayang. Parang [mabigat] din sa kalooban namin na umalis agad,” Alfonso said.

Further, Alfonso recalled the time when Pimentel and his son, Senator Koko, helped them with their water problems in the town of Nagcarlan.

“Sa Nagcarlan, nakatulong sila para sa aning patubig, P600,000 para sa aning patubig… That time may problema kami sa patubig,” Alfonso said.

Her message to the late senator: “Senator, rest in peace. Hindi namin kayo makaklimutan. Nandito na kayo sa puso namin.”

Sally Anonuevo, meanwhile, remembered Pimentel as a kind and effective lawmaker.

Both Alfonso and Anonuevo are members/supporters of the Laguna chapter of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

They said that Pimentel would often personally visit them.

Pimentel died last October 20 due to lymphoma and pneumonia.