INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Pimentel’s ma hits morality, dynasty raps

Southern Luzon Bureau

Delfin Mallari Jr.

LUCENA CITY, Philippines -- Like a protective mother, Lourdes “Bing” Pimentel has defended her family from charges of lack of morals and creating a dynasty after her son, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, joined the Senate race under the Genuine Opposition banner even as his father, Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., was already member of the chamber.

“Morally wrong? What would be immoral are those acts that violate the Ten Commandments. Nasa Ten Commandments ba na huwag tumakbo ang anak kung ang ama ay senador na ng bansa (Do the Ten Commandments prohibit a son from running for the Senate if his father is already in it)?” Pimentel asked during GO’s “Talakayang Bayan” (town meeting) held here last Saturday.

Article 2, Section 26 of the Constitution provides that the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service but prohibits political dynasties as may be defined by law.

Opponents of the political dynasty law argue the term “political dynasty” has not been properly defined and there is no enabling law to back it.

A party-list group, Alyansa Laban sa Dynastiya (Aladyn), is considering filing a case against senatorial candidates it believes are guilty of perpetuating political dynasties.

The group aims to derail the senatorial bids of Koko Pimentel, Alan Peter Cayetano and Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Genuine Opposition and Teresa Aquino-Oreta of the administration’s Team Unity.

Cayetano has a sister, Pia, already in the Senate while Aquino is the nephew of Aquino-Oreta.

Bing Pimentel also lashed out at her family’s detractors for not including President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her own family in the dynasty issue.

“Why are they sparing Malacañang and the dirty political games of President Arroyo? One of her sons [Juan Miguel] is already a congressman, her other son [Diosdado] will run for a Congress seat in Bicol even if he is not from the area and her brother-in-law [Ignacio] is also a member of Congress. Why is all this being ignored?” she said.

Pimentel, an educator, argued her point using the concept of “contemporary morality” --that what was viewed as immoral before is no longer considered “immoral” at present.

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