Pimentel pooh-poohs PH will have new VP

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III pooh-poohed on Monday apprehensions that the country would suddenly wake up with a new Vice President.

“Ayaw kong pumatol sa mga chismis. Ako, once upon a time, (I’ve been) a protestant in an election protest, mahaba po na proseso yan,” Pimentel said when sought for comment on an alleged plan to steal the post from incumbent Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

“Yun pong mga chismis na baka pag gising natin bukas bago na ang Vice President, hindi po ganyan. The system does not work that way,” he said.

A text message was allegedly circulating that a recount of ballots from four to five provinces would start end of November and would be finished by December.

“You can bet early next year, we have a new VP,” the text reportedly said.

READ: Robredo camp warns vs plans to recount ballots sans PET nod

Robredo is facing an electoral protest against former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who placed second in the recently-concluded vice presidential race.

Asked about the prospect of Marcos taking over Robredo’s place, Pimentel said: “No comment po ako dyan because who won should be declared the winner. It’s a rule of law.”

Pimentel had also filed an electoral protest against Senator Juan Miguel Zibiri, whom he accused of robbing him of a Senate seat during the allegedly fraud-marred 2007 senatorial race.

Zubiri resigned in August 2011, and Pimentel served the former’s remaining term. Both are now members of the so-called “supermajority” bloc in the Senate. RAM

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