Koko now willing to work with Migz

MANILA, Philippines - It took some time for Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to finally express his willingness to end the hostilities with former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Pimentel said he would even work with Zubiri in the future on some common interests.

Pimentel said he views his relationship with Zubiri as a political rivalry, not a personal feud.

He cited the case between him and Vice President Jejomar Binay, where they went their separate ways because of disagreements over the inclusion of Zubiri in the line up of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“Your political opponent is not your enemy. They are your competitors and your fight with them should not be forever,” Pimentel said in Filipino before reporters at the sidelines of Team PNoy’s miting de avance in Quezon City on Friday.

“For the good of the country, let’s find a common denominator, our least common denominator. Of course Migz is included. Win or lose, we have to patch up. What is the least common denominator for the development of Mindanao? I’m willing anytime, even before the election,” he added.

Pimentel and Zubiri were engaged in a long-standing feud after the former lost to the former Bukidnon lawmaker in the fight for the last seat in the senatorial elections of 2007.

He filed an electoral protest against Zubiri before the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) and accused him of being involved in electoral fraud.