In a change of heart, Pimentel now wants proclamation

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – In a change of heart, reelectionist senator Aquilino Pimentel III showed up at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Saturday for his proclamation.

With 129 certificates of canvass (CoCs) accounted for as of 6 p.m. Saturday, Pimentel, a candidate of the Liberal Party-led Team PNoy coalition, told reporters that he was there to be proclaimed senator-elect.

He, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV and Antonio Trillanes IV were proclaimed by the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) Friday. Only Aquino showed up while Pimentel and Trillanes did not.

“I haven’t been proclaimed. I will let Comelec proclaim me, that’s better,” he said in Filipino.

Pimentel criticized the decision of the Comelec en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, to proclaim the winners in the Senate race with less than 50 percent of CoCs counted.

The top six in the “Magic 12” – senators-elect Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Alan Cayetano, Nancy Binay and Juan Edgardo Angara – were proclaimed Thursday night. Binay was also a no-show that day.

The crowd cheered as the CoC from Lanao del Norte, the last province to make the transmission, was received at around 6 p.m. at the PICC.

“It’s better now. I looked at the lead. I’m 14 million. My lead is now big, which can’t be changed by the unaccounted votes. If that is the situation then the proclamation is in order,” said Pimentel.