Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has endorsed the senatorial candidacy of former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan for the May 2025 midterm elections, expressing hope that Pangilinan will return to the chamber in the next Congress.

In a Facebook post, Escudero shared a photo with Pangilinan and Sorsogon Governor Jose Edwin Hamor, all making the signature “Kiko” hand sign. The photo was taken during Pangilinan’s weekend campaign in Sorsogon, part of his broader Bicol Region tour.

“We warmly welcomed former Senator Kiko Pangilinan in Sorsogon this weekend in the middle of his campaign here in the Bicol region,” Escudero wrote in Filipino.

Pangilinan’s visit focused on promoting his platform centered on food security, lowering the cost of goods, and providing more support for farmers and fisherfolk through the Sagip Saka Act, a law he authored during his time in the Senate.

Escudero, a native of Sorsogon and a fellow legislator during Pangilinan’s previous Senate terms, recalled the productive partnership they shared in crafting significant legislation.

“We talked about the important laws that we helped pass when we were together in the Senate. I am hopeful that our good work can continue if Sen. Kiko will return to the Senate,” Escudero added.

Pangilinan is currently ranking between 13th and 15th in major national pre-election surveys, but school-based polls have shown him as a frontrunner. In 2022, he won overwhelmingly in the Bicol Region when he ran for vice president alongside former vice president Leni Robredo.

At the time, Pangilinan jokingly referred to himself as the “vice president of Bicol” following his strong showing in the region.