Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 21) — Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno took offense at President Rodrigo Duterte’s claim that the late Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. and his son Senator Koko Pimentel “are not even recognized” in the city, dragging the elder Pimentel in the feud in the ruling PDP-Laban.
“Medyo masakit lang dinamay si Nene. Kung sabihin niya kay Senator Koko, okay lang ‘yan, that’s fair game, pero kay Senator Nene, medyo masakit,” Moreno said in a Malacañang briefing.
[Translation: It is quite painful that he involved Nene. If he only said it to Senator Koko, that’s okay, that’s fair game, but if it’s Senator Nene, it is quite painful.]
He added that Cagayanons “know the kind of person” the late Pimentel was and “loved” him. Before becoming senator, the elder Pimentel served as the city’s mayor and assemblyman.
Moreno also said he believes Duterte’s insult was simply a “political” statement and something “he didn’t mean.”
Duterte, chairman of PDP-Laban, backs the faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, the rival of the group led by Senators Manny Pacquiao and Koko Pimentel.
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