After the resignation of the former 12th Philippine Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, the struggle to claim the lawmaker’s seat of Aquilino “Koko” Pimental III has ended.
The “Senate Electoral Tribunal” (SET) has proclaimed Aquilino “Koko” Pimental III as the true winner of the 12th final list of the Philippine senators during the May 14, 2007 senatorial election.
After a week when Juan Miguel Zubiri gives up the post the proclamation of Aquilino “Koko” Pimental III took place as duly elected 12th Philippine senator and will hold office beginning on Monday.
The SET’s 36-page decision issued was “immediately executory” and signed by all Senate members except for Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid.
SET has attested that the official final count showed at least 258,166 votes leading of Pimentel from Zubiri. The total counted vote of Pimentel was 10,898,786 while Zubiri only have 10,640,620. Based on SET’s methodical examination of the contested May 14, 2007 official ballots, Zubiri lost around 365,246 votes and the vote of Pimentel was deducted about 88,561.
The proclamation of the SET made Pimentel happy and according to him he was relieved from all struggle of seeking justice.
The two years left of the senator will pressure him to double his time in office. And he promised that he would run again during 2013 elections.
Meanwhile, Zubiri had also declared his candidacy on 2013 election.