By Vanne Elaine Terrazola

Former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. has been brought to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital on Monday night.

Pimentel’s son, incumbent Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, said the former Senate chief was “very ill” and is now being treated.

“Senator Nene Pimentel is very ill and currently under treatment. Doctors and hospital staff are doing their best to help him. We ardently ask that you join us in prayer for his full and complete recovery,” his statement sent to reporters read.

Before this, Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) spokesman Ron Munsayac, in a Twitter post past 7 p.m., announced the whereabouts of the former Senate president.

“We are humbly asking our friends and partymates in the @PDPLABAN to pray for the full & speedy recovery of our founder and Chairman Emeritus Tatay Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, Jr. who is currently in the ICU,” Munsayac wrote.

The PDP-Laban did not disclose the hospital where the 85-year-old former lawmaker was confined but reports said Pimentel was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City.