Koko breaks down in tears at necro service for late dad; song penned by mom played

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III became emotional Wednesday as he thanked the people for remembering and honoring his late father, former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimente Jr. during the necrological service at the Senate.

In his response to the eulogies for his father, Pimentel said his father served his productive years serving the people and in the Senate from the age 54 to 77.

He added that the people’s vivid recollection of how his father touched their lives gave him and his family consolation.

“We are proud that many of you consider him as your Tatay,” he said, noting that the late Pimentel was able to mentor a number of lawmakers from former senator Joey Lina to Senator Pia Cayetano.

The senator broke into tears as he was saying that it was hard to say goodbye permanently to someone as special as his Tatay, “someone you admire and love.”

Necrological service for the late Senate President Nene Pimentel starts @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/KEB4HOsaLG

— Amita O. Legaspi (@amitalegaspi) October 23, 2019

It took a couple of minutes before Pimentel was able to talk again.

“It is actually a sad event. We do not want this to happen but it happened and that is life—to cope and to console ourselves to celebrate the life of our beloved departed,” a teary-eyed Pimentel said, his voice breaking.

“We feel blessed for Tatay’s long productive life. His life was an open book, what he believed in private is what is stated in public. His life is full of lessons," he added.

“We will miss our physical interaction with Tatay, we will miss hearing the insights of our elder statesman. Nene Pimentel was my techer, I know he was yours too.  He was our father,  a father to our nation.  We thank God for his life which was  well-lived because of the love and support he got from you,” he further said.

The song "Just Let Me Cry," which was composed by the senator's mother Lourdes "Bing" De La Llana at the deathbed of his father, was performed during the service. 

Late Senate President Pimentel’s widow Bing talks with former sen Orly Mercado @gmanews @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/Us7VSjnTbm

— Amita O. Legaspi (@amitalegaspi) October 23, 2019

— MDM, GMA News