Noynoy – Nene!

It's almost certain now that Noynoy will run for president, especially given Mar's sacrifice followed by other presidentiables withdrawing to support Noynoy. The next question would be his pick for vice-president, a presidential candidate's first most defining decision.

But for Noynoy to reach out to other parties and supporters to unite the opposition, he cannot have a running-mate from the Liberal Party. Hence, a Noynoy-Mar tandem would be a tragic blunder.

Now, the renaissance of People Power for Noynoy naturally requires consistency with what Ninoy and Cory had led. A towering figure for that is Sen. Nene Pimentel who has kept the faith all these years. He will also complement Noynoy as an elder statesman. Nene had been through it all with Ninoy and Cory, and he has fought on up to this day as Senate Minority Leader. And for geographical representation, Nene is from Mindanao. So also, Nene's PDP-Laban is well grounded in Mindanao where the LP hardly has a presence.

We take a glimpse of Nene's lifelong public service (www.nenepimentel.org). Like Ninoy, Nene stood up against the Marcos dictatorship and braved several arrests and detentions: in 1973 at Camp Crame, Quezon City, for opposing the Marcos constitution; in 1978 at Camp Bicutan, Metro Manila, for leading a demonstration against the farcical Interim Batasan Pambansa elections in 1978; in 1983 at Camp Sergio Osmeña and Camp Sotero Cabahug in Cebu City, and house arrest in Cagayan de Oro City on charges of rebellion; and in Cagayan de Oro City for allegedly engaging in ambuscades in Cebu.

In 1982, Nene was ousted by the Marcos government as Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City, but was reinstated by people-power demonstrations, the first ever in the country. Then again in 1984, he was ousted by the Marcos government as Assemblyman, but was reinstated by the Supreme Court.

Nene's unparalleled government experience include service as: Delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention; Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City, 1980-84; Assemblyman, Batasan Pambansa, 1984-86; Minister of Local Government under President Cory Aquino, 1986; Presidential Adviser and Chief Negotiator with the Muslim rebels under President Aquino, 1987; Senator of the Republic, 1987-1992; Senator of the Republic, 1998-2004; 19th Senate President of the Republic, November 13, 2000; Senate Minority Leader in the opening of the 12th Congress, July 23, 2001; and Senator of the Republic, 2004-2010.

So far, Nene's greatest contribution has been to be the Father of the landmark Local Government Code of 1991. And Nene has been tirelessly pushing local autonomy further by advocating a shift to a federal system.

Indeed, should Noynoy make it the overarching mission of his presidency to empower the Peoples and Regions that make up our Nation as self-determining federal states, self-sustaining economies, and strengthened agents of their own social advancement for equal justice, lasting peace, and prosperity for all, he would undoubtedly find a most perfect partner in Nene.

But above all, Nene's honesty, integrity, and patriotism remain unsullied.

Noynoy - Nene!