Pangilinan after successful comeback bid: ‘Stronger hope begins’
Senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. —Photo from Kiko Pangilinan Facebook page
MANILA, Philippines — “Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Simula pa lang ito ng mas matatag na pag-asa. (The fight has not yet ended. This is just the beginning of a stronger hope.)”
This is what Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Tuesday night after securing an assured spot in the Senate’s “Magic 12”. According to the unofficial and partial results as of 11:32 p.m., Pangilinan ranks 5th in the senatorial race with 15,087,863 votes.
Pangilinan attributed his victory to the people who supported his comeback bid (he served as a senator from 2001 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2022).
“Hindi po naging madali ang ating laban. Sa bawat pagod, luha, at dasal, kasama ko kayo (The fight was not easy. In every hardship, tears, and prayers, you were by my side.),” Pangilinan wrote in a Facebook post.
READ: Pangilinan couldn’t believe poll results, thought it was ‘fake news’
During an online press conference on Monday night, shortly after the unofficial and partial results came in, Pangilinan was in disbelief of the results and even said that his placement in the Magic 12 was just “fake news.”
According to the latest senatorial surveys of the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations, Pangilinan was far from securing a Senate seat. He ranked 17th to 19th and 17th in the surveys, respectively.
Pangilinan’s senatorial tandem, former senator Bam Aquino, is also assured of a spot in the Senate race, as he ranks 2nd with 20,636,766 votes. Senator Risa Hontiveros earlier expressed her joy over the two’s assured victory, emphasizing that she will have allies in the Senate.
READ: Principled governance possible with Robredo, Pangilinan, Aquino wins
Pangilinan has repeatedly affirmed his commitment to push for more 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 Noynoy Aquino. /cb
