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EVEN the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) hailed former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. as “a patriot, a democrat and friend of the Philippine revolution.”

“He locked arms with the Filipino people in their fight against the US-Marcos dictatorship. He was detained several times and accused of helping the underground movement,” reads part of a statement released by the CPP following Pimentel’s death.

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The Communist Party also noted that Pimentel was among 12 senators who voted on Sept. 16, 1991 against a proposed treaty that would have extended the stay of American forces in Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base.

“He has steadfastly opposed efforts to distort Philippine history and depict Marcos as a hero. The Filipino people and youth thank him for keeping alive memories of past struggles. His lifestory inspires the people in their present resistance to tyranny,” the CPP said.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) are also mourning the death Pimentel.

Al Haj MuradEbrahim, MILF chair and interim Barmm chief minister, said Pimentel was among the courageous Mindanao leaders who fought the Marcos dictatorship, and contributed a lot in finding solution to the Mindanao conflict.

“Senator Nene will forever be remembered by the Bangsamoro people for his very significant contribution to the efforts in finding genuine solution to the Bangsamoro problem,” Ebrahim said.

He said that since the administration of Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992, Pimentel was among those “who worked very hard to attain peace in Mindanao until the recent conclusion of the peace process.”

He was the Aquino’s chief negotiator in the peace talks with the MILF in 1987. No peace agreement was signed under the Cory Aquino administration but a peace agreement was finally signed on March 27, 2014 under the administration of Cory’s son, Benigno Aquino III: the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro which paved the way for the establishment of the Barmm.

The Barmm replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao early this year, with Ebrahim appointed by President Duterte as the new region’s interim chief minister.

In Cagayan de Oro where Pimentel served as mayor in the ’80s, politicial figures weighed on his passing away early Sunday morning.

Residents here remembered how Pimentel suffered under the regime of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos.

Every morning residents would see him walk with his wife Lourdes “Bing” Illana to the Immaculate Conception Church of Xavier University from their residence on Archbishop Hayes Street in Cagayan de Oro City.

The short walk would have been ordinary except that two or three armed soldiers escorted the couple to the chapel.

Going to mass every day was a concession from Marcos who had him jailed along with other opposition leaders when martial law was declared on Sept. 21, 1972.

Pimentel was jailed four times under martial law.

He served as mayor of this city from 1980 to 1984, and as Assemblyman representing MisamisOrientel at the Interim BatasangaPambansa in 1984.

When Marcos was ousted by People Power in February 1986, then President Corazon Aquino appointed him Local Governments Minister.

He was elected and served in the Philippine Senate from 1987 to 1992 and for two terms from 1998 to 2004 and 2004 to 2010 where he authored the landmark RA 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991,  devolving powers held by the national government to local government units.

In a statement, Mayor Oscar Moreno said, “We are all saddened by the news of Sen. Nene’s passing. Fervently praying that God will grant his soul eternal rest and peace. The people of Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Oriental would be especially honored to pay our last respects and to give a tribute to Sen. Nene here in [Cagayan de Oro], as I am sure that our neighbors here in Mindanao would also join us.”

In his previous statements, Moreno said Pimentel had influenced him into entering the world of politics having developed a close relationship with the former lawmaker.

Moreno claimed his decision to go into public service was because of Pimentel. Just recently, Moreno joined PDP-Laban, the political party of Pimentel.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd District said, “Former Senate President Nene Pimentel will be remembered as a freedom fighter who resisted martial law. He was imprisoned several times for his unwavering belief in democracy.”

“He (Pimentel) went on to serve the Senate with utmost dedication and integrity. He authored our Local Government Code, a big step towards decentralization and autonomy in our country,” he said.

“He trailblazed the proposal for a federal system for our country to develop our countryside. He was a great statesman, a true Mindanaonon, of our country and we in Cagayan de Oro are proud of our native son,” Rodriguez said.

Former broadcaster and criminologist Manuel Jaudian, known for his closeness to the late senator, recalled: “I was a radio reporter in 1980 when I personally met Sen. Nene Pimentel in Cagayan de Oro. He was then our mayor. Since then, I covered his political journey.”

Jaudian posted on Facebook: “Your favorite song ‘You are My Sunshine’ will forever be embedded in our hearts… You have served our country well.”

MarloTabac, barangay chairman of Gusa, said Pimentel’s death “was very painful to me.”

“We have a lost a man who has great plans for this country,” said Tabac, council president of the PartidoDemokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the political party founded by Pimentel in 1982 during the rule of then dictator Ferdinand Marcos, whose leadership Pimentel staunchly opposed.

In 1983, PDP merged with Lakasng Bayan, founded by former senator Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1978.

Today, PDP-Laban is the country’s ruling party, with President Duterte as its current national chairman.

Political figures elsewhere in Mindanao were all praises for Pimentel.

Zia AlontoAdiong, a member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, said the late Pimentel was instrumental in the realization of a regional government for the Bangsamoro people and fought hard for the devolution of powers to the local government units across the country.

“We owe to him the Local Government Code. Mindanao has just lost one of her cherished sons,” Adiong said.

Adiong also remembered how as mayor of Cagayan de Oro, Pimentel welcomed the influx Maranaos fleeing martial law to the city in the ’80s.

Faced by sharp criticisms from some residents, Adiong narrated Pimentel argued that Cagayan de Oro residents should not mistreat Maranaos and instead welcome them.

“In the latest survey, there are more than a thousand Meranao families who are permanently residing in the city.Daghansalamat, Sen. Nene Pimentel,” Adiong said.

Rep. Frederick Siao of the lone district of Iligan City said throughout his political career, Pimentel brought Mindanao issues to the front and center of the national consciousness.

“No other native of Mindanao, particularly Northern Mindanao, was both fierce and compassionate as Senator Aquilino ‘Nene’ Pimentel Jr.,” Siao said.

South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez,  said, “We lost a great leader, one of the best leaders Mindanao ever produced.”

Hernandez added that Pimentel was an “epitome of a principled leader,” one of the pillars of freedom and democracy in the country who “never compromised his beliefs and principles.” (Bong Sarmiento and Carolyn O. Arguillas of Mindanews, and Jigger J. Jerusalem and Froilan Gallardo)

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