MANILA, Philippines - After four years of contesting his loss in the 2007 senatorial elections, lawyer Aquilino Pimentel III was finally proclaimed the 12th winning senator, officially - and belatedly - edging out Juan Miguel Zubiri who resigned last week in the wake of fresh allegations of systematic poll cheating.
The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) handed down the ruling at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.
Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, chairman of the SET, led the proclamation of Pimentel before his family and supporters. By Pimentel’s side during his proclamation were his wife Jewel, their children, siblings and parents, former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Bing Pimentel.
“I thank the SET for dedicating its full attention to my protest. It took time because of the extensive counter protest (of Zubiri). The results have been stored in their (SET) computer since 2008,” Pimentel said.
Also present during the proclamation yesterday were SET members Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Senators Pia Cayetano, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon Revilla Jr., Gregorio Honasan and Antonio Trillanes IV.
Vice President Jejomar Binay also showed up at the proclamation to greet his fellow PDP-Laban party member.
Continue reading at philstar
