‘Koko should earn people’s respect on his own’

HE should be a man of his own.

Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. had this to say after his namesake son, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, was elected to his former post Monday morning, taking the vote of 20 members of the chamber.

The younger Pimentel’s election to the Senate leadership marked the first time in history that a lawmaker became a Senate President like his father.

“It is the first time that it has happened, but that is not the most important thing. The most important thing is for Koko to perform well for the good of the people,” the elder Pimentel told reporters, obliging to an interview despite his hoarse voice.

“I want him to earn the respect of the people on his own, not because he is my son,” he said.

He hoped his son would ensure that laws passed by the Senate “will always uphold the general welfare of our people.”

He also would like Pimentel to pursue a piece of legislation he had advocated for but failed to pass during his time in the Senate: federalism. The elder Pimentel’s measure had received the support of 16 Senators in 2006 but still failed to pass. His last term ended in 2010.

In his speech, Pimentel gave his father special mention: “I would like to specifically thank my Tatay, former Senate President Nene Pimentel, for inspiring me to become a Senator and for inculcating in the aptitude of focusing on the people, their problems and their needs.”

“Tatay, I may not have been able to work with you in the Senate… But at least I will join you on the list of our country’s Senate Presidents,” said the younger Pimentel, who started his first term in the Senate belatedly by three years, missing the last term of his father.

It could be recalled that Pimentel missed the first three years of his term as he wrestled the 12th slot in the 2007 winning roster of Senators from Juan Miguel Zubiri.  The latter was forced to resign in 2011 amid Pimentel’s electoral protest, even as he denied allegations of cheating.

The past, it seemed, was already behind Pimentel and Zubiri, as the latter even voted for the new Senate leader and stood up to second his nomination.

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