Everyone’s ‘Nene’

E·N·Q·U·I·R·Y
DEMAREE J.B. RAVAL

Everyone’s ‘Nene’
Sunday, 03 02, 2003

Down South, among the Ilonggos, “nene” is a term of endearment applied to young boys. Eventually, as they grow up, these boys outlive their nicknames and are thus addressed by their elders and peers by their given names. But there are special cases when one does not lose the moniker, because he is always held in high esteem by people who know him well. Such is the case of a well-known “Nene,” a.k.a. Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., senator.

When he gallantly held the microphone on that tumultuous day in January 2001, so that the 300,000 or so massed at Edsa could hear the present occupant at Malacañang loud and clear as she took her oath of office as acting president, Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. was not looking to suck up with the incoming acting president or earn brownie points either. Always possessed of an exemplary noblesse oblige, the senator was only doing something that he would have to do when anybody else shrinks or is overcome by a fear of doing the right thing at the right time. Indeed, with everyone on that stage trying to elbow out his neighbor in order to jockey for a better position in front of the TV cameras, nobody bothered to take on the seemingly menial task of taking care of the microphone. Except Nene Pimentel.

The senator’s political life has always been characterized by an unconditional willingness to do what is honorable, generous and responsible as a response to a chaotic situation. The virtue is where his credibility lies: He calls everyone as he is, without any attempt at dissimulation or subterfuge.

In that now familiar gravely voice that compels one to sit up and listen, he speaks his truths clearly and forcefully.

It would seem that the political lore of the country would be less rich and colorful if it were written without an account of Nene. A classic case: When it apparent that his former lawyer had lost his bite against corruption in government, the senator called him a nincompoop. No sugarcoated attempt to call a spade as a shovel – that’s Nene for you.

Because of the sincerity he exudes, Nene can denounce the leadership of the Senate, without as much as being branded as a covetous aspirant to the third most powerful position in the land. During the takeover by the opposition of the Senate last year, Nene, together with Sen. Ed Angara, took up the cudgels to defend the constitutionality of the move taken by the new democratic majority of 12 senators in the Senate of 23 members. He proved his point, and not one, not even his former lawyer, could argue to the contrary. Of course, the numbers prevailed two months later, but they who took over again could not say anything contra to the claim and solid arguments of Nene.

Nene had been the minority leader of the Senate of that year, but had to relinquish that in favor of Sen. Tito Sotto, to concentrate on the amendments to the Local Government Code (Republic Act 7160), of which he is recognized father and vigilant steward. The single most important piece of legislation of the Eighth Congress, the Code contains four books and 536 sections empowering local government units. Nobody in that Congress could have shepherded that law with the same doggedness other than Nene. As a city mayor and minister of interior and local governments, Nene has known all too well how too much concentration of power in Malacañang could breed concentrated corruption and neglect of local governments.

Nene’s other obsession, aside from updating the Local Government Code, is the induction of reforms to the antiquated norms of governance, discipline and benefits embodied in the Civil Service Code. Together with Sen. Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Nene is pushing the adoption of Senate Bill 2132. He believes only an across-the-board revamp in the bureaucracy would stem the endemic corruption in the government, and strengthen the moral fiber of our civil service.

Nene set the tone for 2003 on the role of the opposition with his dogged determination to combat the worst that the Arroyo administration can inflict upon the nation. In a dispensation that has spawned irregularities like the PEA scandal, the Piatco mess and the Impsa scam, Nene deserves our admiration for his seemingly Quixotic determination to carry on a big, brave cause – to go after the corrupt vermin who continue to plague the government.

Not too long ago, Nene ran for vice president, teaming up with the venerable Jovito R. Salonga, the president we should have had. But Nene, like Don Quixote, was blown down by the windmills of resistance to clean and honest government and inspired leadership. Nene took his defeat nonchalantly, and said: “The nation is not ready for me.”

Eleven years and more battles later, including going through the crucible of having to suffer in helpless anger when a senatorial seat was stolen from him through dagdag-bawas, Nene is sill in the political arena, albeit begrimed from his relentless jousts against political windmills Nene has taken center stage again, with his opposition to the war in Mindanao and alphabet interventionists like FATF and AGILE-USAid. In characteristic candor, Nene has taken to task the President and her Defense secretary for their cavalier treatment of the Constitution in allowing US troops to take part in a purely domestic battle and even commit the country to a foreign war we can do without.

To most of us the future seems bleak; but then it has always been, and we who have seen the integrity and honesty of Nene must rest our great hopes on this man and affirm that term of endearment by supporting him where he sits in the Senate, every step of the way.

We expect many more from Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Q. Pimentel Jr., the patriot, fighter and honest man.


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