Pimentel to UNA: Drop Zubiri from list or else dissolve coalition

MANILA, Philippines—Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the newly-formed coalition, the United Nationalist Alliance or UNA, should be better dissolved if it would not drop former Representative Juan Miguel Zubiri as a possible bet for 2013 election.

NO TO ZUBIRI. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III drops a bombshell on Tuesday by daring the United Nationalist Coalition not to include former Representative Juan Miguel Zubiri from its list of possible senatorial candidates for the 2013 midterm elections or else dissolve the coalition.

“Kung hindi nila talaga bibitawan si Zubiri, eh i-dissolve na natin ang coalition (If they won’t drop Zubiri, it would be better to dissolve the coalition),” said Pimentel, president of the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan or PDP-Laban, in an interview over the phone early Tuesday.

Asked if he was serious about his statement, the senator said, “Oo bakit hindi? Eh insensitive kayo sa sentimyento ng partner nyo, eh di huwag na tayong mag partner. Ganun lang naman kasimple yun (Yes, why not? If you are insensitive to the sentiment of your partner, better break the partnership. It’s that simple).”

Pimentel made the remarks when sought to confirm rumors that he had resigned from his party because of his continued resistance to run with Zubiri in the upcoming midterm elections.

“Hindi, ano ka ba.. meron lang nagkalat na text (No, I didn’t resign, that was only part of a rumors circulating through text messages),” the senator immediately told INQUIRER.net

“Bakit ako mag-reresign sa partido ng tatay ko saka that’s my one and only party…(Why would I resign from the party of my father and that’s my one and only party…)” he said, referring to his father, former Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Asked if it was okay with him to run with Zubiri, he said, “Ay hindi ok yun (No it’s not OK). But I don’t have to resign.”

“Why will Zubiri make me resign from my party. Sino ba sya? (Who is he anyway?) Illogical di ba? He joins PMP (Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino) and then I resign from PDP-Laban? Napakaswerte naman nya (He thinks he’s so lucky),” said the young Pimentel.

“Hindi ako magre-resign but it doesn’t mean na tatakbo ako with him (I won’t resign but it doesn’t mean I will run for the Senate with him),” he added.

UNA is a newly formed coalition between Vice President Jejomar Binay’s PDP-Laban and former President Joseph Estrada’s PMP.

It should be the PMP, Pimentel said, who must resolve the issue since it was the one who accepted Zubiri in the party.

The senator, however, said Zubiri was not yet mentioned as one of possible senatorial bets when he agreed with the coalition.

“Sino bang tumanggap sa kanya sa coalition? I-solve nila yun (Who accepted him in the coalition? They should be the ones to solve it). But he can’t make me resign from PDP by joining PMP. No way I will run with him,” Pimentel said.