Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called on civil society organizations to intensify grassroots organizing and combat disinformation ahead of the 2028 elections, warning that hopelessness and division are being deliberately sown by “fearmongers” and “crisis manufacturers.”
In his keynote speech at the 2026 Social Development Celebration of the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO) on Monday, June 29, 2026, in Quezon City, the senator reminded civil society groups of the critical roles they play in empowering the citizenry amid the lies, disinformation, and brainwashing.
He warned about the impact of these operations on the country’s future, with the 2028 elections looming.
“Dalawang taon na lang bago ang presidential elections. Hindi lang ito laban para sa mga posisyon. Laban ito para sa kaluluwa ng ating bansa. This is a struggle and a fight for the soul of our nation,” he said.
“Kaya ang tungkulin natin ay hindi lang magsabi ng totoo. Ang mas mahalaga: gisingin natin ang mga kapwa natin mamamayan sa sarili nating lakas. Ipaalala na nasa atin ang kapangyarihan. Na may boses tayo. Na tayo mismo ang liligtas sa ating sarili,” Pangilinan, a student-activist himself during the Martial Law era, added.
The senator recalled telling political allies about his frustrations over three straight election defeats in 2016, 2019, and 2022, crediting civil society, cooperatives, and ordinary citizens for using truth, unity, courage, and perseverance for the 2025 victories.
He called on them to build on the momentum of these wins for the 2028 elections.
“Let us be fierce in hope. Let us be relentless in organizing… Let us turn grief into solidarity, anger into purpose, and frustration into an unstoppable movement,” the senator rallied, as he urged the network’s #LakasLokal campaign to become a genuine force in barangays, cooperatives, and coastal and upland communities.
CODE-NGO is a national network of non-government organizations that has long been active in community organizing and democratic participation in the Philippines.