By Christina Mendez (The Philippine Star) - MANILA, Philippines - The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) may declare lawyer Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III as the winning 12th senator in the 2007 elections on Thursday, an official of the tribunal said yesterday.
SET secretary Irene Guevarra said the tribunal would immediately issue the resolution and declare Pimentel the winner after a meeting on Thursday.
Guevarra said the SET would have to act over the petition of Pimentel following the withdrawal of the counter-protest of resigned senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“There is no other recourse but to proclaim him as the elected senator,” Guevarra told GMA-7.
Guevarra said Pimentel had acquired about 257,000 votes as lead in the recount of the SET.
The SET was unable to proclaim Pimentel at once because Zubiri had filed a counter-protest, thus further delaying the resolution of electoral protest for about four years.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan earlier revealed Pimentel might be proclaimed senator within the week after the SET had set into motion the electoral protest of Pimentel following the resignation of Zubiri.
Zubiri on Wednesday formally resigned from the Senate following questions over his mandate that was triggered by the revelations of cheating in the 2007 elections.
Zubiri maintained he did not cheat his way to the Senate but would allow a high-level investigation into the allegations.
Zubiri said his decision to quit the Senate was a preemptive move, sensing that the SET would eventually decide in favor of Pimentel.
He said it was better for him to vacate his post rather than be caught in a situation where the SET would declare his rival the winner while sitting as a member of the Senate.
Zubiri yesterday went on to advise Pimentel to be humble and respectful to the elder senators.
“My humble suggestion to him (Pimentel) is, make friends with all the senators. And also be respectful to the senior members,” he said.
Zubiri said he should know that paying respect to the senior members would do one a favor, citing a previous word war with Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago but which has now gone well because he has learned his lessons.
“Humble yourself with the senior members (because) that’s one way of getting their good favors,” he said.
Zubiri believes Pimentel would adjust well at the Senate.
“I think attorney Pimentel will not have a hard time in the Senate. I know he’s an astute politician as well. I’m sure he’ll blend in well,” he said.
Zubiri also said he is willing to extend a hand of reconciliation to Pimentel.
“One of these days, this coming week, we’re going to meet for reconciliation after such a long time of animosity,” he said.
Pimentel, on the other hand, said he would take his oath as a senator in Mati City in Davao Oriental where he got the highest votes during the 2007 elections.
Davao Oriental Gov. Corazon Malanyaon, a party mate of Pimentel in the PDP-Laban, is spearheading the preparations for oath taking in Mati City.
Malanyaon would administer Pimentel’s oath with Vice President Jejomar Binay, PDP-Laban president to witness the oath taking.
Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat said it would mean a lot to residents for Pimentel to take his oath in the city.
“He is from Mindanao and he chose Mati City for his oath-taking. We are happy to host him here,” she said.
Pimentel had promised during the campaign period in the 2007 elections that he would take his oath in Mati City should he win as senator. – With Danny Dangcalan, Edith Regalado
