Koko Pimentel hopes to take oath in Davao Oriental

Lawyer Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said he hopes to take his oath as senator in Davao Oriental, to fulfill a promise he made to the people there in 2007. Four years ago, Pimentel promised the people of Davao Oriental, where he received many votes in the 2007 midterm elections, that he would take his oath in the province's capital of Mati City if he ever wins in the senatorial race. However, the promise never materialized after a long electoral dispute between him and his closest contender for the last and 12th spot in the 2007 senatorial, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, ended up in the latter being proclaimed winner.

Pimentel can now fulfill his promise to Davao Oriental after Zubiri on Wednesday resigned after being accused of benefitting from fraud in the 2007 polls. "Nung eleksyon kasi doon, nakakatuwa na ang laki ng boto ko doon. Number 2 ako, Kaya naman I promised them I will have my oath-taking there," Pimentel said at a press conference in Quezon City on Friday. Pimentel admitted being surprised by the overwhelming support he got from the province. "Hindi nga ako nag-campaign doon eh. Pero ang lakas pala ng machinery doon," he said. Once the Senate Electoral Tribunal decides on his poll protest against Zubiri, Pimentel said he could assumed the post vacated by Zubiri in two weeks' time. Pimentel said he already contacted his friends in Davao Oriental to start preparing for his oath-taking. He said he would be asking his father, former Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., to write a speech for him. The younger Pimentel also revealed he was open to the idea of tapping a designer to make an attire for him for the oath-taking. - VVP, GMA News