'Graduating' senators deliver valedictories

As the 19th Congress drew to a close last night, four senators took the podium one last time in plenary to deliver valedictory speeches to mark the Senate's sine die adjournment, with reflections on public service and legislative milestones.

- Neil Jayson Servallos, Delon Porcalla

Senate Minority Floor Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, who was met with the loudest cheers as he was introduced on the floor for his speech, closed his 13 years of service in the chamber and reflected on the lessons and missteps in his political journey.

One of the fiercest supporters for the Senate's convening as an impeachment court, he talked of how members of the impeachment court "outmaneuvered" him and Sen. Risa Hontiveros during Tuesday night's proceedings.

"For example, saan ako nagkamali, paano niyo kami nautakan. Paano nautakan ng majority ang minority (Where did I go wrong, how did you in the majority outwit us in the minority)?" he said.

He also reminded his colleagues that the chamber "is not a place for echo chambers but for courageous discourse. In diversity we find democracy's heartbeat." Pimentel acknowledged the weight of political conflict over the years and the possibility that his actions or words may have hurt others.