IN ENDORSING the vice-presidential bid of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Mike Sueno made an impassioned call to the public to train their sights on the candidate who has the experience and passion for agriculture.
Sueno said farmers like him and other agricultural workers are mired in hardships in their sector, yet are barely getting help from the government.
“Of all the vice presidential bets, no one can come close to Kiko Pangilinan’s experience in and passion for agriculture,” he said in a statement.
“Many of us in Mindanao are farmers and fishermen. We are facing a lot of problems. It appears that the government is giving us less attention. Kiko will take up the cudgels for us,” Sueno added.
Thanking Sueno, Pangilinan said the support carries weight coming from a Mindanaoan and farmer, like himself.
“Sabi nila, kung may pagkain ka ngayon, magpasalamat ka sa magsasaka. Idadagdag ko rito na kung may boto para kay Leni at Kiko sa eleksyon, magpapasalamat din kami sa magsasaka,” he said.
Sueno described the Leni-Kiko movement made up of volunteers as “amazing.”
“Volunteerism has reached its peak. Volunteers young and old are increasing every day. As a result, many groups and sectors are coming out endorsing the tandem,” he said.
However, Sueno narrated that some groups are still not carrying Pangilinan as their vice-presidential candidate.
He said he has reviewed the past and present records of the other aspirants and found Pangilinan to be deserving of the Filipino vote.
Sueno also called for votes for some of the senatorial candidates in the Leni-Kiko slate, namely, Senator Leila de Lima, Senator Risa Hontiveros, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former congressman Teddy Baguilat, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, Alex Lacson, labor leader Sonny Matula and Senator Richard Gordon.
He also endorsed the senatorial bid of former party-list lawmaker Neri Colmenares and former agriculture secretary Manny Piñol.