By MB Online
Senator Bong Go expressed his condolences to the family of the late Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. who passed away Sunday.
Late Senate president Aquilino Nene Pimentel Jr (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
"I offer my deepest and sincerest condolences to the bereaved family, particularly to his son and my colleague in the Senate, Sen. Koko," said the senator.
Go called Pimentel "Tatay Nene" and considered him a "staunch ally" who was a visionary, democracy leader, and a hard working legislator.
"Acknowledged as the father of local autonomy, he championed the cause of local governance and had enormously contributed in shaping what local government units possess now. The Local Government Code of 1991 is a testament to his remarkable contributions," he added.
Pimental founded the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino in 1982 to oppose the then-ruling Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
"His death may leave us with a sad void and profound loss to his family and to our country he cared to so much about. But his legacy shall forever be remembered and shall always guide us in shaping the destiny of our people," Go ended.
As Senator, Pimentel was known for his contributions to legislation such as the Local Government Code of 1991, the Philippine Sports Commission Act, the Act Creative the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and the People's Small-Scale Mining Act.
READ MORE: Timeline of Former Senate President ‘Nene’ Pimentel
Pimentel died at 5 a.m after succumbing to lymphoma and pneumonia.
READ MORE: Former Senate President ‘Nene’ Pimentel passes away at 85, Senators mourn the death of democracy stalwart Nene Pimentel