Protesters greet Zubiri's first day in Senate

After a tight battle for the last senatorial seat, newly elected Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri started his first day in Senate with protesters denouncing his electoral win outside the Senate building in Pasay City. Radio station dzMM reported that about 100 supporters of losing Genuine Opposition (GO) candidate Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, Zubiri's rival for the final senatorial slot, voiced their outrage. The group also demanded that neophyte Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV be released from his detention area at the Philippine Marine headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. The radio report said that every time a Senate convoy passed by the protesters, the latter would raise their placards and streamers bearing messages that Zubiri cheated and that Pimentel should sit as senator. Police officials said the protesters carried a rally permit but were only allowed to march up to the Manila Film Center near the Senate building. A separate radio report on dzBB said that after arriving at the Senate and seeing the protesters, Zubiri was quoted as saying that he was anticipating detractors to arrive today (Monday). Meanwhile, a police crowd dispersal unit has been stationed near the protesters to monitor the group's activities and keep them from entering the Senate gates. - GMANews.TV