SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – They may no longer be in the same coalition but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile is still willing to support Sen Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s re-election bid.
A surprised Enrile was asked by reporters about Pimentel’s decision to leave Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Enrile is one of UNA’s 3 key leaders, along with Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.
Enrile said he did not even know that Pimentel met with Estrada Thursday morning, June 28, to inform him of his decision to leave the alliance over its decision to include his rival, resigned Sen Juan Miguel Zubiri, in its senatorial slate.
Still, Enrile remains supportive of his colleague.
“If he asks for my help as a friend, I will endorse him to voters in my province. You can still endorse other candidates of other parties. There’s no problem with that. If needed, it’s up to the individual,” Enrile said in Filipino.
Enrile is a stalwart of Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), which aligned with Binay’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to form UNA for the 2013 polls.
Pimentel said while he is bolting UNA, he stays with PDP-Laban. He is the party’s president.
The Senate President said Pimentel’s decision will not affect UNA.
“The agreement is between the two parties, not individuals. The party (PDP-Laban) is still in a coalition with us. [Koko] just does not want to carry the trademark of UNA.”
Enrile added, “I wish him the best.”
Erap: It pains me…
Estrada told ABS-CBN he was saddened by his wedding godchild’s decision.
“Dinadamdam namin. Masakit sa kalooban ko pero wala kaming magagawa.” (We regret his decision. It hurts but there is nothing we can do.)
Another PMP stalwart, former Senate President Ernesto Maceda, said in a statement, “We respect Senator Koko’s decision.”
“His adherence to principle is admirable.”
Earlier, Pimentel told reporters, “Hindi ko kayang tumakbong senador sa ilalim ng UNA habang nando’n si Zubiri,” he said. (I can’t afford to run under UNA as long as Zubiri is there.) “Sabi ko kay President Estrada, I want to campaign with a happy heart. Gusto ko sa kampanya happy ako. (I want to be happy in the campaign).”
Speculation is rife he will run under the ruling Liberal Party.
Pimentel’s objection to Zubiri is rooted in an electoral protest over the 2007 polls. He accuses the latter of cheating him and depriving him of his Senate seat for over 4 years.
Zubiri resigned in August 2011, days before the Senate Electoral Tribunal declared Pimentel the winner of the protest. – Rappler.com
Click on the links below for related stories:
Elsewhere in Rappler:
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.