Buhos ang pakikiramay ng iba’t-ibang opisyal ng bansa, mga kaibigan at nakasama sa trabaho ni dating Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr.
Nitong Linggo ng umaga, marami ang nagulat sa pahayag ng kaniyang anak na si Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Martin Pimentel III, na pumanaw na ang kaniyang ama, habang nasa pagamutan.
“Our beloved Tatay Nene has joined our Creator at 5 am today Oct 20, 2019. We thank all those who have been a part of his life,” wika ni Sen. Koko.
Kaugnay nito, agad nagpa-abot ng pakikiramay ang Palasyo Malacanang sa pagpanaw ng tinaguriang “ama ng local government code.”
“He would forever be etched in our history as a giant among his peers who championed democracy and electoral reform and a visionary who espoused devolution of powers and strong local governance,” saad ng pahayag mula sa Malacanang.
Inalala naman ni Vice President Leni Robredo ang pagiging magaling na mambabatas at pagiging tunay na maginoon ni Pimentel.
“Our country lost one of its last statesmen today with the passing of former Senate President Nene Pimentel. He was kind, a true gentleman, and principled amid many challenges we faced as a nation. Our deepest condolences to his wife, Bing, his children, and all his loved ones,” wika ni Robredo.
Hindi naman naiwasang maging emosyunal ng ilang dating kasamahan ng dating pinuno ng Senado.
Para kay Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, nawalan siya ng isang itinuturing na malapit na kaanak at kaibigan.
Si Sotto ay dating majority leader nang pamunuan ni Sen. Nene ang mataas na kapulungan ng Kongreso.
“I feel like I lost a close relative and not just a friend. I was his majority leader when he was Senate President and we were very close. He was my idol!,” pahayag ni Sotto.
Maging ang kapwa Mindanaoan lawmaker na si Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri ay nagluluksa rin sa pangyayari.
“The death of our former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr is a great loss for Mindanao and the Nation as he is one of those I consider as one of the great pillars of our country’s democracy in the last 50 years,” wika ni Zubiri.
Kahit ang panig ng oposisyon ay labis ding ikinalungkot ang pagyao ng dating opisyal.
Para kay Liberal Party (LP) president Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, malaki ang ambag ni Pimentel sa natatamasa nating demokrasya ngayon dahil isa ito sa mga nakipaglaban sa diktadura.
“Sa ngalan ng aking pamilya sa pakikibaka, nagpapasalamat ako sa ibinahagi niyang buhay para sa karapatang pantao, kalayaan, at demokrasya noong panahon ng diktadura,” ani Pangilinan.
Sa panig naman ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros, maaalala niyang palagi si Pimentel sa pagiging palaban nito sa ngalan ng katuwiran.
“Today, our country lost a truly great man,” pahayg ni Hontiveros.
Inilarawan naman ni Sen. Grace Poe bilang “principled leader,” “patriot,” at “statesman” ang dating Senate president.
“A principled leader, patriot, statesman. Senator Nene always kept watch and put himself on the line for the sake of the Filipino people. Our heartfelt prayers are with his family,” wika ni Poe.
Habang kay Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, itinuturing nitong naging mabunga at makabuluhan ang naging buhay ng dating mambabatas.
“Tatay Nene Pimentel lived a passionate and fruitful life. He may have left us, but his legacy will always remain and be remembered,” wika ni Gatchalian.
Kahit ang Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ay binigyan ng pagkilala ang naging ambag ni Pimentel para sa demokrasya.
“Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel was a patriot, a democrat and friend of the Philippine revolution. He stood militantly against the Marcos dictatorship. He voted to end the lopsided US military bases treaty. His memories of past struggles inspire the youth to firmly resist tyranny,” wika ni Marco Valbuena, tagapagsalita ng CPP.
