Atienza: Don't drag Nene Pimentel in PDP-Laban power struggle

House deputy speaker and BUHAY Partylist Representative Lito Atienza on Tuesday, July 20, appealed to the personalities involved in the power struggle in the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to refrain from "belittling" and dismissing the role of late former Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. in the political party and the country.

“Nene was one of the most genuine and real patriots, he never worried about his own safety and comfort. His only concern was to liberate the nation from martial rule and Mr. Marcos’ dictatorship,’’ Atienza said in a statement.

“Wag niyo namang kaladkarin sa putikan ang alaala ni Nene Pimentel sa inyong bangayan at pagnanais na mapasainyo ang liderato ng Partido na siya at si Ninoy Aquino at iba pang mga lumaban sa diktadurya upang maibalik ang ating kalayaan at demokrasya (Do not drag the memory of Nene Pimentel in your fight and your desire to get the party leadership, and also that of Ninoy Aquino and others who fought the dictatorship so that freedom and democracy will return)," he told PDP-Laban members.

"I knew the man and worked with him in the struggle for the restoration of democracy as one of the 60 opposition members of the Batasang Pambansa,’’ Atienza said.

The PDP organization was organized by Nene as a vehicle to fight the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan of late diictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Laban, meanwhile, was organized by Ninoy Aquino.

The House leader said he had seen the genuineness of the late senator's "desire to restore our rights and freedom which we are now enjoying."

"'Wag niyong dumihan, maliitin at baliwalain ang kontribusyon ni Nene (Do not muddy, belittle and ignore Nene's contributions)," Atienza reiterated.

He said both “Nene Pimentel and Ninoy Aquino deserve revered positions in our memory and history.”

Earlier, President Duterte claimed PDP-Laban that the was "asleep for a hundred years" until he joined the party and ran for president in 2016. He said the PImentels owe the growth of the party to him.

Meanwhile, Pimentel's son and namesake, incumbent senator and PDP-Laban stalwart Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, thanked Atienza for his statements.

"The Pimentel family would like to thank Cong. Lito Atienza for the very, very kind words he wrote about out Tatay, Nene Pimentel," he tweeted later.