NOTE: This article first appeared in Coverstory.ph, where I am a contributor.

LEGAZPI CITY—Former senator and Liberal Party president Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is mulling a comeback to the Senate in next year’s midterm elections, but this would depend on his prospects of winning.

“I’m inclined to seek reelection, but I have not finalized my plans because I also want to see my chances [in the] polling,” he told Coverstory.ph.

Pangilinan was in Legazpi to speak at the graduation ceremonies of Bicol University’s College of Medicine and Malilipot town’s San Jose Community College early this month. He was also shooting an Albay episode for the second season of his “Hello Pagkain” show in One PH.

The results of Pulse Asia’s June 2024 survey of possible senatorial candidates in the May 2025 elections showed Pangilinan at 14^th to 21^st places. Among reelectionist senators, Pia Cayetano was at 3^rd to 5^th places, Christopher “Bong” Go at 5^th to 8^th places, Imee Marcos at 6^th to 11^th places, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at 7^th to 12^th places, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. at 8^th to 12^th places.

Erwin Tulfo and Vicente “Tito” Sotto topped the survey at 1^st and 2^nd rank, respectively, earning more than 50% of voter preference. Other possible hopefuls are former senators Bam Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV.

Pangilinan did not seek reelection in the 2022 elections, opting to run as vice president alongside presidential candidate and former vice president Leni Robredo. Both lost, as did their senatorial candidates except for reelectionist Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Food problem

If his chances of winning improve close to the 2025 elections, agriculture-related bills will still be on top of his priorities, Pangilinan said.

“Clearly, since we stepped down [in 2022], the food problem has worsened. Prices have gone up. So food insecurity is really a challenge,” he said in Filipino. “In fact, the No. 1 issue for our fellow citizens is the high prices of goods. And, of course, the main focus of that is food.”

Prices of rice and other essential commodities in the country are “almost double, even triple” compared to Thailand, he said. “Even if you work very hard, you still cannot afford to buy delicious food.”

Tech giants

Pangilinan also said tech giants like Google and Meta need to improve their conduct ahead of the 2025 elections. “Google and Facebook, they all have to get their acts straight,” he said.

The former senator filed a cyberlibel complaint against Google and its video-sharing YouTube channel “Bungangera TV” at the Department of Justice last March 11 in connection with posts alleging that he had physically abused his wife, actress Sharon Cuneta, and their children. 

“It is not easy to sue them, but somebody has to do it and I happen to be in the position to do so,” he told CoverStory after his episode shoot. “And I hope others will follow.”

Pangilinan recounted that he had kept requesting Google to take down the malicious posts, but the tech giant did not act. “It was only after I sued them that they took it down. What was that, like hiding the evidence?” he said, adding:

“Ninety-plus percent of our voters are concerned about fake news. The problem is how to identify and make them more aware of which is fake and which is not fake. That’s why fact-checking is important.

“I believe people are capable of making informed decisions. It’s the disinformation that actually prevents them. And I’d like to appeal to our kababayan. It is not sinful to believe the lies, and they should not be blamed for this. The liars should be held responsible, not the believers who should be convinced and not be criticized.”

Leni Robredo

Pangilinan also said he respects Robredo’s decision to run for mayor in Naga City, where her husband, the late interior secretary Jesse Robredo, also served as mayor for a total of six terms.

In an earlier media interview, Robredo said she had chosen to run in Naga, a Liberal Party stronghold, because she felt that her capacities were not aligned with the skill sets of a senator. 

Robredo “is being truthful, she is being honest,” Pangilinan said. “As they say, ‘All politics is local.’ I can understand completely because she says [she needs to preserve and protect] the legacy of Jesse.”

At this point, Pangilinan said, “There is a rift among their group, so it needs to be strengthened, but hopefully after 2025, in 2028 …”

Robredo’s supporters have been clamoring for her to seek the presidency again in 2028.