Pimentel’s son confirms plan to run for Senate

ORMOC CITY — Bar topnotcher Aquilino "Cuco" Pimentel III, son of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., confirmed to The STAR yesterday his plan to run for a Senate seat in the 2007 elections.

Apparently as part of his senatorial bid, the younger Pimentel said he is first reorganizing his father’s political party, the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino- (PDP-Laban), in Eastern Visayas so it can strengthen its alliance with other political parties, including those in the opposition.

He revealed that he began reorganizing the PDP-Laban in Tacloban City the other day. He is scheduled to visit other parts of Leyte to do the same.

According to Pimentel, topping his Senate agenda is youth development and quality education.

He said he is certain that education with a strong focus on science and mathematics would ensure the quality of Philippine education and make high school graduates competent in all endeavors.

Pimentel said he, too, loves mathematics but because he wondered why his father was always imprisoned during the Marcos regime, he decided to take up law and subsequently topped the Bar in 1990.

Pimentel said he also has several programs in mind for the youth, adding though that he started implementing several of them when he was a commissioner of the National Youth Council.

He said he wants to craft legislation or programs that would further improve the welfare of the Filipino youth.

Pimentel added that he would also push measures to create more jobs for new graduates as well as to train them to become entrepreneurs.

Pimentel, meanwhile, lauded the administration of Mayor Eric Codilla for implementing projects beneficial to his constituents.

For instance, he hailed the rice production enhancement program which has helped improve the production of local farmers.