Ballot 51:
Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan
FORMER SENATOR
Liberal Party (chairman)
Age: 61 (born Aug. 24, 1963)
Highest educational attainment: Masters in Public Administration, Harvard University
Endorsed by: Former vice president Leni Robredo, 1SAMBAYAN
Positioning himself as an “alternative independent” to the Marcoses and the Dutertes, Pangilinan vows to prioritize measures that would lower prices, improve food security, increase the minimum wage and address other primary concerns of the masses.
Field of Expertise
- Minority Leader, Commission on Appointments (2017 – 2020)
- Majority Leader (2004 – 2008)
- Served as chairperson of various committees such as constitutional amendments and revision of codes; agriculture and food; social justice and rural development; tourism, agrarian reform; rules, education, arts and culture; justice and human rights; urban planning, housing and resettlement; and ethics and privileges
- Authored and sponsored over 200 bills that became laws, including RA 11321 (Sagip Saka Act), RA 9262 (Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004) and RA 9293 (Amending the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act).
Issues and Controversies
Filed libel and cyber libel charges against YouTube channel Bungangera TV in 2024 for posting videos accusing him of adultery and sexual assault; also sued the authorized representatives of Google and YouTube Philippines for “aiding and abetting” a cybercrime
Filed another cyber libel suit, along with wife Sharon Cuneta, against entertainment columnist Cristy Fermin in May 2024 “for libelous statements” made about the couple’s personal affairs
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Family Members in Government
Pablo Cuneta Sr. (deceased)
Relationship: Father-in-law
Position/s held:
- Mayor - Pasay City (1988 - 1998; 1971 - 1986; 1951 - 1967)
- Appointed mayor - Rizal City (1950)
Where this candidate stands on top 5 concerns of the Filipino voter
- Urges government to revoke the permits of traders who are hoarding and smuggling rice to stabilize and lower prices, stressing that this will drive the cost of other goods down
- Proposes a two-pronged approach in addressing wage concerns: increase the minimum wage to a “livable wage,” and cut red tape and bribery in government’s business dealings to improve the country’s overall investment climate
- Vows to expose smuggling in importation of goods
- Aims for good governance reforms in the agriculture sector, especially to stop corruption in public biddings for agricultural supplies and machinery
- Lauds the ban on offshore gaming operators and urges the prosecution of public officials involved in the “den of criminal activities”
- Actively denounces China’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea (WPS); supports the policy of asserting the country’s 2016 victory in the South China Sea arbitration and the filing of diplomatic protests against China
- Calls for the defense of the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone in the WPS, a rich source of fish crucial for the country’s food security
- Calls the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war a crime and condemns its use of the national police as a “killing machine;” emphasizes the program has failed to end the spread of illegal narcotics and the need to punish high profile drug personalities
- Says the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over alleged crimes against humanity committed in the Philippines while it was a state party to the Rome Statute, and that those responsible must be investigated and held accountable by the tribunal
- Urges the use of the Sagip Saka Law and directly source from local farmers the palay and other agricultural products as relief goods during calamities to bolster disaster preparedness efforts
- Pushes for climate resiliency programs that include emergency cash-for-work during times of disaster relief and rehabilitation.
Interesting Facts
- Was the first student regent with voting power in 1987 as a member of the Board of Regents, the highest decision-making body of the University of the Philippines
- Co-owns with his wife an all-organic, 600-hectare property called Sweet Spring Country Farm that grows bananas, mangoes, coconuts, herbs and coffee in Alfonso, Cavite
- Abandoned plans in 2022 to seek reelection to the Senate to be the vice presidential running mate of then presidential candidate Leni Robredo, but lost to former mayor Sara Duterte of Davao City by around 23 million votes