Kiko Pangilinan eyes last-minute push for Senate return

Former senator and senatorial candidate Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Monday expressed confidence that a wave of last-minute voters will help secure his return to the Senate in the upcoming 12 May midterm elections.

Speaking to entertainment reporters at a press conference hosted by the Monteverde family of Regal Entertainment, Pangilinan said he is banking on his legislative track record and clean reputation to win over undecided voters.

"Let’s just stay focused... present our advocacies, stay focused until the end, and keep going," he said in Filipino.

“We can feel it on the ground—our fellow Filipinos, many of them decide at the last minute,” Pangilinan added. “Now we are sensing that last-minute momentum. People are taking their choices more seriously. We’re optimistic that once they review our track record, they’ll see we’ve remained untainted by corruption and have passed many laws. They’ll know we are deserving.”

Pangilinan highlighted his advocacy for food security, including his proposed Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast) program aimed at supporting underprivileged students.

Central to his platform is the full implementation of the Sagip Saka Act, a law he authored to enhance government support for farmers and fisherfolk. With better funding and technical assistance, Pangilinan said, food producers can significantly increase output, ensuring a more stable and abundant food supply across the country.

He emphasized that food security is directly tied to educational success, particularly among low-income families.

“When our children are well-fed, they stay in school longer and learn more effectively,” he said.

The former lawmaker, who previously served as Senate agriculture committee chair, is seeking a return to the chamber with a campaign focused on clean governance, rural development, and inclusive growth.