| Koko Pimentel | |
|---|---|
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office August 15, 2011 |
|
| National Youth Commission Commissioner for Mindanao | |
| In office 1996–1998 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Aquilino Martin de la Llana Pimentel III January 20, 1964 Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | PDP-Laban |
| Spouse(s) | Jewel May Lobaton-Pimentel |
| Children | Aquilino Martin Emmanuel L. Pimentel IV |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University University of the Philippines, Diliman |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Profession | Lecturer |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Aquilino Martin de la Llana Pimentel III (born January 20, 1964) commonly known as Koko Pimentel, is the son of the former senator Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. (1987–92, 1998–2010) and Lourdes dela Llana-Pimentel. He was proclaimed on August 11, 2011 as the 12th winning senator in the 2007 election. [1] He was sworn in at Mati, Davao Oriental on August 12, 2011 and assumed office on August 15, 2011.
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Pimentel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Ateneo de Manila University and a Bachelor of Laws from University of the Philippines, Diliman. He was subsequently the topnotcher in the 1990 Philippine Bar Examinations.
Pimentel began working as a lawyer in 1990, and was commissioner (representing Mindanao) on the National Youth Commission from 1995–98. Since 2006 he has been a professorial lecturer from MBA-JD Consortium, De La Salle Professional Schools and Far Eastern University Institute of Law.
Pimentel is married to Jewel May Lobaton, a former Binibining Pilipinas-Universe titleholder who represented the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant in 1998. Koko and Jewel May have 1 child, Aquilino Martin Emmanuel L. Pimentel.
Aquilino Pimentel III has as yet never held an elective post. He ran for mayor of his native Cagayan de Oro City in the 2001 elections but was defeated by then-Mayor Vicente Emano.
Running in only his second race in the May 14, 2007 senatorial elections, Pimentel was narrowly defeated by Bukidnon Congressman Miguel Zubiri for the 12th and last slot in the Philippine Senate. The margin of some 18,372 votes was hotly contested, particularly the votes from the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao, where Pimentel had lost heavily to Zubiri.
Claiming the votes in Maguindanao were tainted, Pimentel petitioned the Supreme Court to issue a restraining order against the proclamation of Zubiri. With the vote tied at 7–7, the High Tribunal failed to grant Pimentel's petition,[2] and Zubiri was duly proclaimed elected to the Senate on July 14, 2007. In the final tally, Zubiri had garnered a total of 11,001,730 votes, and Pimentel 10,983,358 votes.[3] On March 14, 2008, the Supreme Court in a 40-page decision penned by Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario, dismissed Aquilino Pimentel III's petition to stop the Commission on Elections from canvassing votes from the province of Maguindanao. However, the Court's judgment did not prevent the Senate Electoral Tribunal from proceeding on the Pimentel poll protest.[4]
On July 14, 2007, Zubiri was officially proclaimed the 12th winner of the May 14 senatorial elections by the COMELEC, sitting as National Board of Canvassers, shortly before noon and a day after the Supreme Court denied the petition of Pimentel III seeking a temporary retraining order. The final tally showed Zubiri leading by some 18,000 votes over Pimentel.[5]
On August 12, 2011, he did his oath taking as a Senator of the Republic of the Philippines at Mati Provincial Capitol, Mati, Davao Oriental.
Pimentel filed an electoral protest against Zubiri in the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET). The SET resolved to proceed with the protest finding grounds for a recount.[6] Pimentel won the protest and was proclaimed senator on August 11, 2011, days after Zubiri resigned.[7]
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