MONDAY/ OcroBER 21, 2019
WWW.INQUIRER.NET
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By Froilan Gallardo
@inqmindanao
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY-
Residents of this capital city of pay our last respects arld to
Misamis Oriental await the ar-
rival of its most illustlious son,
the late freedom fighter and
Senate leader Aquilino "Nene"
PimentelJr.
His remains are scheduled
for public viewing at the City
Hall here from Wednesday af
ternoon until Friday morning,
as announced by his son Sen.
Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel IIL
The older Pimentel started
what became a remarkable po-
litical career in this province as
its representative in the Consti-
tutional Convention of 1971.
He also served as mayor of
this city from 1980 to 1984, and
it was during these stints that
he shaped his argument for the
transfer of a greater bulk oT po-
litical power from the central to
$011
the local governments- fpught tooth and nail to bdng [who] will be remembered for fought alongside each other on
"The people of Cagayan de freedomback [to] t}Ie people." how he fought the martial laly issues that will protect our peo-
Oro and Misamis Oriental Interior Secretary Eduardo dictatorship, at the expense of ple and promote progress."
would be especially honored to ARo directed all local govem- his own freedom." In a statement, Vice Presi-
ments to fly their flags at half- In Malacanang, Commuqi- dent Leni Robredo said: "Stand-
give a tribute to Senator Nene... 'staff inhonor of Pimentel. cations Secretary Martin Anda- ing up to the diatator lFerdi-
as I am sure that our neighbors Speaker Alan Peter nar, Cabinet Secretary IGrlo nandl Marcos during martial
here in Mindanao would also Cayetano cited Pimentel for his Nograles and presidential law, asserting Philippine
join us," said the city's mayor, "long-standing service to the spokesperson Salvador Panelo sovereignty during the debates
OscarMoreno. codntry guided by his steadfast praised Pimentel for being "a for the renewal of the US bases
"He was agreat statesman, a integrity and nationalisp." true public servant." treaty, running as [Yice presi-
true Mindanaoan, and we in Senate President Vicente His ally in ihe anti-Marcos dentl to an eminently qualified
Cagayan de Oro are proud of Sotto III said: "I feel like I lost a struggle and former Senate col- but underfunded Jovito Salon-
our native son," said Cagayan close relative and not just a league, human rights lawyei ga in 1992, taking the principled
de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez. friend. I was his majoriryleader Rene Saguisag, called Pimentel position as Senate President
when he was Senate President, a "gem ofpureit ray serene." during the Estrada impeach-
Flats at half-staff and we were very close..He was "He focused on serving the ment trial-t-trese are the mo-
"We owe to him the Local my idol." people in all his decades dfpub- ments that will forever define
Government Code. Mindanao A "maverick who could not lic service," Saguisag said. "Not lPimentel's] place in our peo-
has just lost one of her cher- resist a good fight, many of self, but countrywas the many- ple's history." -wrrHrEPoRTs
ished sons," said Zia Alonto which byhis lonesome," Senate splendored fixed star he went FRoM ERWN MAscAFrftAg DrvtNA
Adiong, . a member of the President Pro Tempore Ralph by." SUSON, LEAH AGONOY, JIGGER J.
Bangsamoro Transition Author- Recto described the late sena- Former Vice President Jejo- JERUSAIEM, BONG SARMIENTO, JHES.
ity. "Democracy would not have tor. mar Binay-another comrade SET O. ENANO, DEXYER CABALZA,
been restored in the country Detained opposition Sen. in the anti-Marcos strug- JUIIE M. AUREIIO, DJ YAP, MARION
[were] it not for the fearless few Leila de Lima said Pimentel gle-said: "More than a sena- RAMOS AND JEANNEITE I. AN-
like Sen. Nene Pimentel who was a "defender of democracy, tor, Nene was a friend. We... DRADE INq
a n4orts -Atf o