Fresh from victory, Kiko Pangilinan says `pink movement’ must reach out

Former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. PHOTO from Kiko Pangilinan Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Thursday said he and his allies’ win in the 2025 midterm elections marks the emergence of a “third political force,” and a rejection of the groups aligned with the Marcoses and the Dutertes—which have been embroiled in a heavy political dispute.

Pangilinan made the pronouncement in response to an assessment made by former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson who stated that the high rankings Pangilinan earned with former Senator Bam Aquino in the partial and unofficial tally of the elections can be attributed to the rift between line-ups aligned with the Dutertes and the current administration.

Pangilinan placed 5th with 15,290,525 votes so far, while Aquino placed 2nd with 20,895,171.

READ: Pangilinan couldn’t believe poll results, thought it was ‘fake news’

“Well, our victory is a rejection of both in that sense, otherwise we should have lost and some of them should have won,” Pangilinan said in an interview on INQUIRER.net’s InqToday.

“So yes we are like a third force,” he added.

According to Pangilinan, their win proves that the public seemingly viewed the elections as a “three-cornered fight,” hence why he and Aquino won, along with the Akbayan and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-lists—headed by Atty. Chel Diokno and former Senator Leila de Lima as first nominees, respectively — with whom they campaigned.

However, Pangilinan emphasized that he doesn’t think the majority of the voting public is “politicized,” stating that he believes many of them simply want the country’s most pressing issues solved, particularly, issues on food and job security and inflation.

“If I’m the one being asked, I’d like to focus on what we promised the voters, manage food security, focus on strengthening the agriculture and fishery sector…that’s where I intend to focus myself,” he said in Filipino.

What’s next for the ‘pink movement?’

Meanwhile, when asked what he thinks is next for the `pink movement’—the grassroots political and social campaign that emerged during the 2022 presidential elections where former Vice President Leni Robredo ran for President with Panglinan as her vice—Pangilinan responded that it is high time to reach out to others.

READ: Lacson: Kiko, Bam biggest beneficiaries of Alyansa-DuterTen tiff

“I think the pink movement is evolving and it should not be the pink movement, we should really reach out,” Pangilinan said.

“You know the pink movement was unprecedented, definitely, but if you look at it, and that’s where we got concerned as well—15 million votes in 2022, but there were 60 million voters so 45 million didn’t support us,” he added.

Pangilinan explained that the public should be “conscious and mindful” of not speaking with each other or limiting themselves to echo chambers. This, he said, was pivotal in his recent campaigns where he basically appealed to everyone to come together regardless of political colors.

“And I think that’s how we should move forward, continue to convince, inspire and to get others on board,” said Pangilinan.

“Of course, with a clear understanding that we are against corruption, injustice, abuses in government and we are in favor of precisely addressing the most basic aspirations of our people,” he added. / MR