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MANILA, Philippines – It’s complicated? In a relationship? Divorced?
Senator Koko Pimentel faces the tough choice of parting ways with an old ally or staying and compromising his principles.
Rappler’s Ayee Macaraig reports on the complicated choices and friendships in Philippine politics.
“It’s complicated” is how Senator Koko Pimentel describes his relationship with the United Nationalist Alliance.
Pimentel is in the process of deciding whether or not to leave UNA over the inclusion of resigned Senator Migz Zubiri in its senatorial slate for 2013.
But even before Facebook popularized the status, Pimentel admits he has long been “in a relationship” with his party, PDP-Laban.
It’s actually a 30-year-old relationship he inherited from his father, Former Senator Nene Pimentel and mentor, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The ties are rooted in the anti-Marcos movement when two parties – Pimentel’s PDP and Senator Ninoy Aquino’s Laban, entered a political marriage in 1982.
Jojo was a minor player at that time, bata pa si Jojo noon, dito sa Metro Manila politics. But Jojo incidentally was very active already, meron kaming lawyers noon eh, Mabini ang tawag and I was also although I was in Mindanao, I was a member of Mabini
AQUILINO “NENE” PIMENTEL JR
PDP-LABAN FOUNDER
Since then, Binay and Pimentel never parted ways.
During Cory Aquino’s presidency, then interior and local government minister Pimentel was instrumental in installing Binay as OIC mayor of Makati, launching his political career.
When original Laban members broke into factions, Binay stuck it out with PDP-Laban.
Even without the power, money and numbers of bigger parties, PDP-Laban endures thanks to the ties of its two stalwarts.
One of the jokes that they have is you can fit in the PDP-Laban inside a beetle, a beetle car or that PDP-Laban, one running joke also is that PDP-Laban can afford to hold its party convention in the most expensive 5-star hotel in Manila because all they need is one table.
JV BAUTISTA
UNA SPOKESPERSON
When the elder Pimentel retired from politics in 2010, Binay founded the Pimentel Center for Local Governance to help him to continue his advocacy.
Just last February, the Pimentels and Binays celebrated the 30th anniversary of PDP-Laban, their political alliance and friendship.
But with Koko Pimentel thinking of leaving Binay’s new coalition, will he change the status to single?
UNA hopes not but Pimentel’s father says he’s ready to stand by his son.
The vice president considers Sen Koko as a son, no less.
JV BAUTISTA
UNA SPOKESPERSON
Even relationships of that kind, mayroong hangganan. Ang hangganan doon when principles get trounced by practicality, di ko na tatanggapin yun.
AQUILINO “NENE” PIMENTEL JR
PDP-LABAN FOUNDER
Whatever his son’s decision will be, the former senator says one thing is sure: he will never totally “unfriend” Binay.
I wish him well… no matter what happens.
AQUILINO “NENE” PIMENTEL JR
PDP-LABAN FOUNDER
Ayee Macaraig, Rappler. – Rappler.com
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