MATI CITY – Newly-installed senator Aquilino Martin “Koko” Ll. Pimentel III said he would prioritize Senate measures needed to assist Davao Oriental and other parts of Mindanao during the less than two remaining years of his term. Pimentel, 47, made the vow after taking his oath of office in Mati, Davao Oriental and witnessed by the whole country on Friday. This was a day after he was proclaimed winner of the 12th slot in the 2007 senatorial elections over Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, who earlier resigned as senator a week earlier.
Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon administered the oath-taking held at the jampacked provincial capitol quadrangle shortly before noon. It was covered by local reporters and the country’s major television and radio networks and print media outlets and witnessed by some 5,000 residents of Mati City and towns of the province, including well-wishers from other part of the region, including members of PDP-Laban whose president is Koko Pimentel.
Pimentel was accompanied by wife Jewel May, mother Lourdes and his siblings.
The new senator admitted he was touched by separate resolutions passed by the provincial board of Davao Oriental and the Mati City Council declaring him “adopted son”.
“You are now my brothers and sisters and it‘s all the more my responsibility to help you in any way I can,” the 1990 bar topnotcher said in the vernacular.
“I will listen to the clamor of the rest of Mindanao. Mindanao muna, this early I request for the understanding of our brothers in Visayas and Luzon.
Please understand, give us the chance. This is my way of implementing my campaign promise that I will pursue affirmative actions in favor of Mindanao. Pagbigyan naman natin ang Mindanao para po makahabol kami sa inyo jan sa Luzon at Visayas,” Pimentel said.
He said his decision to take oath in Mati, the youngest city of the Davao Region, is due to the promise he made in 2007 when he was already certain of his victory in the senatorial race before the controversial returns from Maguindanao came in.
“We are all here because a promise is a promise. Made 4 years ago when I anticipated our victory, that if I win I will take my oath in Davao Oriental. I won but I was not proclaimed. So I fought, we are from Mindanao so we know how to fight for our rights,” Pimentel said to the delight of
the thousands of Mati residents who welcomed him to the city.
“First time in my life to be in Davao Oriental, but here I am taking my oath here. Inyo na kong gi adopt so makasulti ko na I shall definitely return. I am glad that I take my oath in Davao Oriental because it should be the model for Mindanao. Such a rich and beautiful place that’s waiting to be discovered by the rest of the country and the world,” the senator added.
Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat meanwhile expressed gratitude to Pimentel for briefly causing the focus of attention of rest of the country on Mati due to his historic oath-taking.
“It’s like bringing the whole country to our city today showcasing the beauty of out landscape and seascape. We now have a voice in the Senate,” Rabat said.
Saying she was deeply honored of being chosen to administer the oath of the new senator, Governor Malanyaon also hoped for Senator Pimentel to continue to be an advocate for local autonomy and people’s empowerment. She said she personally owed a lot to Koko’s father, former senator Nene Pimentel as the latter was responsible in introducing her to politics by appointing OIC councilor of Davao City in 1986, when he was minister of Interior and Local Government during the term of the late President Corazon C. Aquino.
“I promise you that I will do my best in the limited time that I have. I will listen to you, I will maintain communication lines. What are your pressing concerns and I will work on them. You have a champion in the Senate. Tandaan po ninyo, kababayan nyo na po ako kasi you adopted me,” the senator added.
Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Ra. Cagas who also graced the occasion said Koko’s assumption as senator rekindled the hope of Mindanaons to have a president of the country coming from the island region soon, as aspiration that his father, Nene, failed to achieve, despite his distinguished career as senator.
Senator Pimentel said that aside from Mindanao’s welfare, he will also be participating in the various Senate probes.
Pimentel also declared his opposition to the RH Bill especially on the House version. He is not closing his doors on the issue though as he added that if ever the pro-RH Bill could convince him, there is a possibility for him to change his mind.
The senator said he will also work for reforms in the electoral process being a victim himself of election cheating in 2007. Pimentel said he will also dedicate his office to serve the victims of injustices.
Coming back to Davao City, the new senator and his long convoy made whistle stops in Compostela Valley, Tagum City and Panabo City to meet with his partymates in the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban. (with a report from BOT)
