Sinariwa ng ilang kongresista ang legasiyang iniwan ni dating Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. kasabay ng kanilang pagluluksa sa pagpanaw ng naturang senador.
Sa isang statement, inalala ni Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano ang pagiging “stalwart advocate” ni Pimentel sa pagpapalit ng porma ng pamahalaan patungong federalism, gayundin ang ilang dekada nitong pagseserbisyo sa publiko taglay ang kanyang kapuri-puring integridad at pagiging makabayan.
“His contribution through empowering the local governments to initiate development and bring basic services to the people, is invaluable and will be forever remembered,” ani Cayetano.
“On a personal note, having personally worked with him in the Senate, I am witness to his professionalism and his commitment to duties. He is one of the inspiring examples to me and all our public servants. It was truly a pleasure and honor to work with you,” dagdag pa nito.
Iginiit naman ni House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez na ang pagiging “powerful force” ni Pimentel sa pagreporma ng lokal na pamahalaan bilang ama ng Local Government Code.
“Senate President Pimentel is a good man and a great leader. His dedicated public service and brilliant leadership are beyond question. He will be remembered for leading an honorable life,” sambit ni Romualdez.
Ibinahagi naman ni Deputy Speaker Michael Romero ang pagiging “perfectionist” ni Pimentel pagdating sa kalayaan at demokrasya.
Ito aniya ang dahilan kung bakit simula’t sapul inilalaban na ng namayapang senador ang civil liberties, pagkakapantay-pantay at hustisya.
“Senator Nene was among the Filipino leaders who inspired the youth in the late 60’s and down to these very days. I am among those who were awed in the way he interspersed nationalism with outstanding intellect and high sense of fairness and justice in order to let us savor freedom and democracy,” wika ni Romero.
Samantala, nagpapasalamat naman si Bagong Henerasyon party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy kay Pimentel ang pagkakaroon ng party-list system sa bansa.
Noong tumakbo kasi aniya si Pimentel bilang alkalde ng Cagayan de Oro City noong 1980, nakita nito na kailangan at papel ng bagong breed ng political parties na mula sa mga komunidad.
“In his vision for a federal Philippines, Pimentel saw the necessity of having party-lists and regional parties to represent more voices of Filipinos with shared values identifiable by generation, culture, region, and sector,” ani Herrera-Dy.
Sa kabilang dako, sinariwa naman ni Iligan City Rep. Frederick Siao ang pagsusulong ni Pimentel sa kapakanan ng Mindanao.
“He is loved and respected all over Mindanao as a man of principle and love for the poor and marginalized. Pimentel is for all intents and purposes, a Hero of Mindanao,” saad nito.
Sumakabilang buhay si Pimentel kaninang alas-5:00 ng umaga matapos na makipaglaban sa sakit na lymphoma at pneumonia, ayon sa anak nitong si Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn “Gwen” Pimentel-Gana.
