Koko Pimentel's proclamation seen on Thursday

Lawyer Aquilino “Koko" Pimentel III can look forward to being proclaimed as a senator on Thursday, August 11, for rightfully winning the 12th spot in the 2007 senatorial elections, a report on GMA News' "24 Oras" said Sunday. Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) secretary Irene Guevarra said the SET en banc was scheduled to meet on Aug. 11 and the body could issue a resolution that same day to proclaim Pimentel as senator. “There's no other recourse but to proclaim him as the senator," said Guevarra. Once proclaimed, Pimentel can take his oath of office and finally assume the role as senator of the Republic of the Philippines. Pimentel has stated that he intends to have Davao Oriental Governor Cora Malanyaon to swear him into office as soon as the SET issues the proclamation resolution.

Pimentel said he will fly to Davao Oriental to take his oath in that province where he had placed second in the senatorial race. This, he said, was his way of thanking the voters there. In an interview with GMA News, Pimentel expressed his preference of Senate committee memberships. “If I would be allowed to ask, I would ask for the Justice or Electoral Reform Committees, [or] the Local Governments [Committee]. But if these are already taken, I’m ready and willing to accept any committee assignment given to me," he said. Pimentel said he knows he will be compared to his father, former Senate President Aquilino “Nene" Pimentel Jr., but he assured the public that he is his own man. Pimentel was understandably elated over the news of his impending proclamation, which he had been fighting for for four years. Last week, his opponent in his electoral protest, Juan Miguel Zubiri, resigned as senator and withdrew the counter-protest against Pimentel. Pimentel disclosed that he has already formed a search committee in charge of forming his staff at the Senate, led by his sister Gwen, who had also served as their father’s former chief of staff. — MRT/KBK, GMA News