The declaration of the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) that lawyer Koko Pimentel was the real winner in the 2007 senatorial elections effectively stripped Juan Miguel Zubiri of the title of senator. That means Zubiri was never elected as senator.
Also, the declaration made Pimentel a senior senator now because, although he was only recently proclaimed, according to the law, his term started in 2007 and he can only seek one more term.
It’s also historical that in the 14th Congress, there were two Pimentels in the Senate: Aquilino Jr. and Aquilino III.
I hope the history of the Philippine Senate will be rectified by the removal of the name of Juan Miguel Zubiri from the roster of senators. Also, the media and some senators should stop referring to Zubiri as a former senator. And in fairness to himself, Zubiri should stop referring to himself in his press releases as a former senator.
—MAURICIO A. DIZON,
moriedizon@gmail.com