Labor groups hail contributions of ex-Senate President Pimentel

Former Senate president Aquilino “ Nene” Pimentel Jr (Czar Dancel / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Labor groups expressed their condolences to the family of former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., who passed away Sunday morning.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) said Pimentel was a “conscience of our nation and a tireless defender of democracy at a time when too many Filipinos chose the path of silence, acceptance, and obedience to the dark heart of a dictatorship.”

“His lifelong struggle for political democracy and economic democracy inspires the TUCP and the entire working class to never give up and to never surrender,” the group said.

The TUCP also cited Pimentel’s contribution as the latter authored the Local Government Code “to ensure genuine autonomy and self-direction for local governments.”

Pimentel also authored the Cooperative Code of the Philippines and the Charter of the Charter of the Cooperative Development Authority.

“This was meant to empower ordinary workers, farmers and fisherfolks by pooling their finance together to help each other free their class from economic exploitation by cartels, oligarchs, and the vested interests,” the group said.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said that the late senator’s good deeds will remain to be emulated.

“FFW extends its prayers and condolences to the bereaved family of a good man,” it said.

“We note with sadness the death of a good man and workers’ companion in the struggle for social justice,” it added. - By Analou De Vera