Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan attributed his strong showing in the 2025 midterm elections to voters looking for a moderate alternative amid a deeply polarized political landscape.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Pangilinan — currently ranking fifth in partial, unofficial Senate results — said his position resonated with Filipinos who didn’t fully align with either the administration or the opposition.

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

He likened his performance to his 2007 Senate run where he topped the vote in provinces like Cebu, Iloilo, and Pampanga, and Dumaguete City.

Pangilinan also credited his campaign’s focus — alongside fellow candidate Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV — on education and agriculture, two issues he said that struck a chord with voters. Aquino is currently in second place in the ongoing count.

A long-time advocate for agriculture, Pangilinan reiterated his pledge to push for a larger budget for the sector — proposing an increase to P70 to P100 billion over the next three years. He said the funds should go directly to the farmers and fisherfolk in the form of equipment, post-harvest facilities, training, and other support to help secure the nation’s food supply and bring down prices.

Looking ahead, he called on the winners to set aside politics and prioritize good governance.

“Maybe just for a year and a half, we’re asking all those who won — let’s fix the country first,” he said. “If we can do that, maybe we can really focus on the concerns of our people. But, of course, that’s just my personal view — I’m open to exchanging ideas.”

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