Although he’s lamenting the current political circus in the country, former senator and senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan is resolute in getting his campaign message of food security to Filipinos, regardless of their political leanings and preferences.


During a phone-patch interview with DZXL Nationwide on Monday, April 21, the former senator pointed out that the political bickering has contributed nothing but more problems to Filipinos.


“Madami nang hidwaan. Tutok lang tayo sa mensahe natin. Let them do their worst. Gawin nila ang pinakamasama nila. Gagawin natin ang pinakamabuti natin dahil ang taong bayan pagod na sa gulo, pagod na sa paninira, pagod na dito sa mga bangayan,” he said.


He urged other candidates to work together to solve the country’s problems instead of launching smear campaigns against each other.


Pangilinan himself was a constant victim of these campaigns, especially in the lead-up to the May 2025 midterm polls.


“Ang taong bayan ang daing, solusyon sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin. Sana tigilan na nila yan. Hindi sila nakakatulong,” he said.


“Harapin natin ‘yung problema ng bayan. Magkaroon tayo ng pagkakaisa dahil walang kulay ang gutom. Lahat tayo apektado ng mataas na presyo ng bilihin. Sana ‘yun na lang ang paigtingin,” the former senator added.


He expressed hope that voters will be more vigilant in choosing the candidates they would vote for, and particularly appealed to them to stop supporting those spending millions of pesos to discredit other candidates, spread disinformation, and add to the country’s problems.


“Yung mga naninira dagdag sa problema ng bansa yan kaya dapat yung mga kandidato na alam natin sila ang pumopondo nito ay wag na sila piliin. Piliin yung totoo, ‘yung tapat, ‘yung hindi gumagasta ng milyon-milyon para magdagdag sa problema,” Pangilinan stressed.


But despite the political division, he is confident that he can work with all to achieve his promise of lower prices of food.


He pointed out Malacañang’s decision to arrest former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo and make POGOs illegal due to a Senate inquiry led by Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is not an ally of the President.


“Palagay ko kung kayang arestuhin si Alice Guo at gawing iligal ang POGO, kaya rin arestuhin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bigas at gawing iligal at sampahan ng mga kaso itong mga tiwali,” he said.


Similar to when he was food security czar during the Aquino administration, Pangilinan said he plans to fight for the rights of Filipinos to access fresh, affordable, and nutritious food.


“Ipaglalaban ‘yung taong bayan, hindi dapat mga traders na nagsasamantala. Lalabanan natin ito,” he said, adding that his name was never once linked to anomalies in his three terms in the Senate.


“Tiniyak natin sa tatlong termino, hindi tayo nagtaksil. Ni minsan hindi tayo nasangkot sa anumang anomalya. Yan po ang serbisyong tapat at totoo,” he stressed.


It is time, the former senator said, to work together to solve the country’s woes, particularly the increasing incidences of hunger and poverty.


“Walang kulay ang gutom kaya kinakailangan din na huwag natin kulayan ang solusyon. Handa tayo makipagkaisa sa lahat para maabot natin ang pinapangarap nating Pilipinas, kung saan walang Pilipinong nagugutom at lahat ay mabibigyan ng oportunidad para sa mas magandang bukas.”