UNA blasts Pimentel for vote to oust Enrile, raps his ‘insensitive behavior’

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) on Tuesday hit at Senator Aquilino Pimentel III’s vote to oust Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

In a statement, UNA spokesperson lawyer JV Bautista said that the senator’s actions indicated his “gross insensitivity to the sentiments of the members of PDP-Laban… to which he still claims adherence.”

Enrile on Monday offered to resign as Senate President amid criticisms and rumors of an ouster plot against him. Only Pimentel and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV voted to allow the resignation–eleven senators opposed Enrile’s move.

“With such strange and insensitive behavior, Senator Koko may just have alienated the last few remaining support from the PDP-Laban that he could get for his candidacy,” he said, reminding Pimentel that it was in a declaration of unity he signed with Enrile that gave birth to UNA.

He added that Pimentel, who voted with Trillanes to approve Enrile’s move to quit his Senate presidency, had “squarely identified” with Trillanes’ “confused politics.”