Kiko credits ‘soft supporters’ for strong Senate rank

Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan attributes his fifth-place ranking in the 2025 National and Local Elections partial unofficial results to voters who saw him as a middle-ground option.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Pangilinan compared his fifth-place standing to his 2007 Senate run, where he topped the vote in provinces such as Cebu, Iloilo, Pampanga, and Dumaguete.

“Those who didn’t support the opposition gave me a chance. Those who didn’t support the administration also gave me a chance. I think it’s because I wasn’t part of the two colliding stones, so to speak, that soft supporters from both sides gave me a chance,” Pangilinan said in Filipino.

He also pointed out that his advocacy together with senatorial candidate Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV—currently ranking second in the partial unofficial results—particularly on education and agriculture, is a possible factor in their strong showing.

Known for his advocacy on agriculture, he said that if elected, he would push to increase the agriculture budget to between P70 to P100 billion over the next three years. Pangilinan wants these funds to be used as direct support for farmers and fisherfolk—for equipment, post-harvest facilities, training, and other forms of support to secure food and lower prices.

Looking ahead, Pangilinan urged those who are poised to win to set aside differences and focus on governance.

“Maybe just for a year and a half, we’re asking all those who won, let’s fix the country first,” he said. “Hopefully, if that can happen, we can focus on the concerns of our people. But of course, that's my personal view, I have to share, I have to exchange notes.”

In the Social Weather Stations survey conducted a week before the elections, Pangilinan ranked 17th with a 21 percent preference rating, while Aquino placed 16th with 23 percent.