Pimentel denies wanting Zubiri out of UNA or dissolution of coalition

(Editor’s Note: In the interest of truth and fairness, INQUIRER.net is posting alongside Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel’s rejoinder, an audio clip and transcript of his interview with Maila Ager from which she based her article that was posted on the website earlier on Tuesday. Upon Ms Ager’s request, the transcript was sent to her by the Office of Vice President Jejomar Binay which asked for the audio clip after Pimentel sent Binay’s office a copy of his statement. )

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel denied Tuesday an INQUIRER.net report which quoted him as telling the United Nationalist Alliance to drop Miguel Zubiri from the coalition or dissolve it.

I never told UNA to “Drop Zubiri or else dissolve coalition,” Pimentel said in a statement.

“I told Maila Ager [INQUIRER.net reporter] over the phone that, in fairness to UNA, all efforts are being exerted and all possible avenues are being pursued to solve this controversy within the coalition. I have discussed the idea of dissolving the UNA coalition in order to avoid this issue of my running with Zubiri in one senatorial slate involving my party with undersecretary Benjie Martinez of the Office of Vice President [Jejomar] Binay.

“All options to resolve issues related to the PDP-Laban Coalition with the PMP [Partido ng Masang Pilipino] in the UNA are being discussed by PDP Laban Party Officials based on party principles and programs. I will continue to do this to ensure the victory of our party candidates in 2013,” said Pimentel.

Zubiri gave up his Senate seat in 2011 to give way to Pimentel, his closest rival for the final 12th slot during the national elections in 2007, after suspended Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao Governor Zaldy Ampatuan admitted that the senatorial elections in Maguindanao was rigged to favor Zubiri, an ally of then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Pimentel had lodged an electoral protest prior to Ampatuan’s admission.

Below is the transcript of Ms Ager’s interview with Pimentel:

MAILA AGER (MA): May naririnig po akong nagresign na raw po kayo sa PDP?

SEN. AQUILINO PIMENTEL III (Koko): Hindi. Ano ka ba? Meron lang nagkalat na text.

MA: So wala naman kayong balak magresign?

Koko: Bakit ako mag-reresign sa partido ng tatay ko saka that’s my one and only party.

MA: So yong possibility na magsasama kayo ni Zubiri sa slate ni Binay, ok na kayo doon?

Koko: Ay hindi ok yun. But I don’t have to resign. Why will Zubiri make me resign from my party. Sino ba sya? Illogical di ba? He joins PMP and then I resign from PDP-Laban Napakaswerte naman nya. Hindi ako magre-resign but it doesn’t mean na tatakbo ako with him.

MA: Paano po yong coalition ng UNA na PDP and PMP? How are you going to resolve that?

Koko: Hindi naman ako ang kumuha ng bato na ipapamukpok sa ulo ko. Sino ba ang tumanggap sa kanya sa coalition? I-resolve nila yan. But he can’t make me resign from PDP by joining PMP. No way I will run with him.

MA: Have you asked Vice President Binay to reconsider his decision to include Zubiri?

Koko: The entire coalition sinabihan ko na. Noong lumabas na ang pangalan ni Zubiri, sinabi ko na sa kanila na I have a vehement objection dito. And to their credit naman, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nila officially pinapangalanan si Zubiri. They’re trying to solve it. It must be solved.

MA: So, hindi pa talaga sya nasa official list.

Koko: Wala pa. Ayaw pa nila maglabas ng official list kasi sino-solve pa.

MA: There’s no way naman na maghiwalay kasi kayo nga yong nagbuo ng UNA, yong PDP?

Koko: Oo, pero actually ang solusyon dyan, sabi ko, kung hindi nyo talaga bibitawan si Zubiri e di i-dissolve natin ang coalition.

MA: Seryoso kayo doon?

Koko: Oo. Bakit hindi? Eh insensitive kayo sa sentimyento ng partner nyo, eh di huwag na tayong mag partner. Ganun lang naman kasimple yun.

May commitment naman kung kelan mare-resolve o walang binigay na timeframe?

Koko: Walang timeframe. So, fluid ngayon.

MA: Sa LP, sa slate ni President, kasama na kayo doon?

Koko: Wala ring sure doon. Ang maganda doon ay di pa naman ako nagre-react. Hindi naman ako tumatalon. Nagpapasalamat lang ako na kino-consider nila ako. Fluid pa lahat.