Pimentel : UNA and Zubiri evoke Electoral Cheat

 Zubiri explains the tabulation of votes of his controversial senate win in 2007

“By welcoming [Migz Zubiri] into its fold, UNA has [unequivocally] put itself on the side of electoral cheats and sends the message that it will do anything to propel itself into power.”

Assailed by former senator to United Nationalist Alliance on its plan to include resigned senator Zubiri for the senate slate of the party.

UNA accepted Zubiri despite the vehement objection of Pimentel’s son, Sen Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who filed an electoral protest against Zubiri over the 2007 senatorial polls. 

The young Pimentel has always maintained that Zubiri, who ran under the erstwhile administration’s Lakas party, was aware of efforts by the Arroyo administration to rig the elections. This was bolstered by the testimony of a witness called by the Senate electoral reform committee chaired by Pimentel chaired who alleged that he delivered genuine tabulation materials to a warehouse allegedly belonging to the Zubiri family in Bukidnon weeks before the 2007 elections.

In a statement first posted on Interaksyon.com, the elder Pimentel criticized the alliance whose partner coalition is a party he helped found. Pimentel founded Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), which later merged with the Lakas ng Bayan (Laban) of the late Sen Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.

PDP-Laban formed an alliance with former President Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) to form UNA in the 2013 polls.

The Pimentels’ ally, Vice President Jejomar Binay heads UNA while Sen Koko Pimentel is PDP-Laban president.

“The UNA decision to accommodate [Migz] Zubiri as a 2013 senatorial candidate weakens its pretentions that it will set the tone for the reformation of our country’s corrupt political system,” said Pimentel Jr.

Pimentel Jr echoed his son, calling Zubiri an election cheat.

The former Senate President maintained that his son is fighting for principles, saying that UNA is only after political expediency.

“To UNA, the principles that Koko Pimentel is fighting for: clean and honest elections, transparency and accountability, especially of public officials are useless and irrelevant, and should be substituted by what is politically practical and expedient (with Rappler.Com)