Pimentel avoids campaigning in Zubiri hometown

BUKIDNON, Philippines – Re-electionist Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III avoided yesterday the campaign sortie of the administration’s Team PNoy held in this bailiwick province of his nemesis, former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, whom he accused of cheating in the 2007 senatorial elections.

Pimentel was represented by his cousin Astravel Pimentel-Naic in a rally held at Malaybalay City here, where she spoke to students of the state-run Bukidnon State University.

She said Pimentel’s absence was not intentional, but it was only because he was attending to some legislative work even with Congress in recess, and held a “hearing of the Senate committee on electoral reforms.”

But a check with the Senate showed there was no such hearing. An employee of Pimentel said the senator had a taping in GMA-7 in Quezon City.

Pimentel, however, attended last Tuesday a campaign rally in nearby Cagayan de Oro City, his family’s bailiwick, which is a two-hour drive from Bukidnon.

Pimentel had attended Team PNoy’s proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila, Cebu City, Iloilo and Bacolod, but missed the sorties in Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.

Sen. Franklin Drilon, campaign manager of Team PNoy, admitted it is really difficult to assemble all 12 candidates in one place, but said they are trying their best, and are urging topnotcher-senators Francis Escudero and Loren Legarda to help their colleagues.

“We don’t issue warnings, we only appeal. It’s really difficult to complete the slate,” said Drilon, noting the situation of individual candidates where it is very difficult to prevent them from making their own appointments.

“We have no recommendation (for the absentee candidates). We leave it up to the sound judgment of the candidate,” Drilon said, adding he will also discuss the issue with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who ranked third in the surveys, to also help out.

Team PNoy senatorial candidates Rep. Sonny Angara, Escudero and former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chief Grace Poe-Llamanzares were in Zamboanga City last Tuesday when President Aquino and the other senatorial bets held a rally in Cagayan de Oro City.

“I’ll talk to Alan (Cayetano). We will also ask Loren and Chiz to campaign for the team more than themselves because they are sure winners,” Drilon told reporters.

Legarda – who topped the latest SWS survey – introduced her teammates in Cagayan de Oro the other day.

Several senatorial bets – except for a few like Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, Cynthia Villar and Jamby Madrigal – were represented by proxies in this province, whose governor is Alex Calingasan, an ally of the Zubiris.