Lawmakers, gov't officials condole with family of ex-senator Nene Pimentel

More lawmakers and government officials went to the second night of the wake for former Senate President Aquilino "Nene" Pimentel Jr. on Monday in Taguig City.

Among those who went to the Heritage Park to condole with Pimentel's family including his son, Senator Koko Pimentel, were Senators Richard Gordon and Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Also present were Representatives Edcel Lagman, Jacinto Paras, Pantaleon Alvarez, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Labor Secretary Silvestre  Bello III, former Mandaluyong Mayor Benhur Abalos, and former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Koko thanked all those who condoled with their family especially their supporters not just from Mindanao but throughout the country.

For him, his father's record in public service cannot be discounted.

"Well, sa dami ng achievements niya, he's probably best known as the Father of Local Government Code. Iyon po siguro sa larangan ng lawmaking. Sa larangan naman ng politika, he was an icon of democracy," Koko said.

"I think he is a man that a lot of the young people especially among our poor can emulate because he went up by his own bootstraps. Tinulungan niya ang sarili niya at maganda ang kanyang legacy," Gordon said.

Pimentel died on Sunday morning after battling lymphoma and pneumonia. He was 85.

On Wednesday, the former Senate President's remains will be brought to the Senate in Pasay City for necrological services.

In the afternoon, his remains will be flown to Cagayan de Oro for a two-day wake at the City Hall.

His remains will be flown back to Manila on Friday night for the last night of his wake at Heritage Park.

Interment will be on Saturday at Heritage Park. —KG, GMA News