Pangilinan-Aquino count on support of Naga City for May 12 polls
MANILA, Philippines — At the last day of campaign period for the May 2025 elections, senatorial candidates Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Bam Aquino have returned to Naga City to bank on the support of Nagaueños.
Naga City is the bailiwick of former Vice President Leni Robredo, who is running for mayor under An Bagong Team Naga slate.
Speaking before the crowd of pink and white at their Miting de Avance, Pangilinan recalled his campaign moments in the city when he ran as vice president in the May 2022 elections, alongside Robredo as his presidential running mate.
READ: Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan build LGU base as polls near
“Kung maaari po ay mabigyan muli ng mataas na porsyento ng boto dahil masikip ang labanan sa pagka-senador. Mahigpit ang labanan. Bawat boto mahalaga. Bawat suporta mahalaga,” Pangilinan said in his speech.
(I hope you can still give me a high percentage of votes because the Senate race is tight. The fight is crucial. Every vote counts. Every support counts.)
Robredo and Pangilinan secured landslide wins in the city with 87,940 votes and 79,463 votes, respectively.
According to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Station from May 2 to 6, Pangilinan ranked 17th with 21 percent of votes and Aquino at 16th place with 23 percent of votes among 1,800 registered voters.
The former senator earlier pushed for more government investment in the agriculture industry to promote food and job security. He was the presidential assistant for food security and agricultural modernization from 2014 to 2015 under the administration of late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Meanwhile, Aquino committed to push for the creation of stable jobs for college graduates. Aquino was the principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
READ: Bam Aquino backs extension of SUCs in every municipality
Aquino said that free education in college and job security are the “complete reform.”
“Pag akyat sa entablado, ang hawak sa kanang kamay ay diploma, sa kaliwang kamay, job offer na,” Aquino told the crowd.
(When [a student] goes to the stage, their right hand holds a diploma while the left one holds a job offer.)
“Pag binalik n’yo po kami sa Senado, everyday, walang ibang iisipin kung hindi ang kapakanan ng mga anak n’yo,” Aquino added.
(If you elect us back to the Senate, everyday, you will not think of anything else aside from the welfare of your children.)
Aquino, who was senator from 2013-2019, also served as Robredo’s campaign manager in the 2022 elections.
