Press ReleaseAugust 1, 2009    “Why should we be designated by the US to coordinate their relations with ASEAN?” asks independent senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of GMA’s elation over US President Barack Obama’s designation of RP as US’s Southeast Asian regional coordinator.”It’s not our job to coordinate the relations of other

Press ReleaseJuly 30, 2009    Now is not the right time for mere photo ops.This is independent Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan’s reminder to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as she meets with US President Barack Obama over a variety of topics. According to news reports, the Arroyo administration’s human rights record is also

Press ReleaseJuly 30, 2009    “On top of the agenda should be the VFA,” says independent senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s meeting with US President Barack Obama. “At the minimum, GMA should in no uncertain terms make it known to President Obama that there is a growing clamor

Press ReleaseJuly 28, 2009 Independent senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan expresses dismay over GMA’s returning of the Judicial Board Council’s shortlist of recommended Supreme Court justices. “The JBC must assert its independence from Malacanang by returning the same list to Ermita. The constitution vests the power of preparing the shortlist to the

Press ReleaseJuly 29, 2009  Independent senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan slams oil companies on the latest price hikes of their products. “Bibigyan na naman ng mga kumpanyang ito ng bagong pasanin ang taong-bayan. Hindi ba pwedeng maghanap ng paraan ang mga malalaking kumpanyang ito na pasanin ang pagtaas ng presyo sa

Press ReleaseJuly 27, 2009 “As expected, she trumpeted her administration’s supposed successes,” says independent senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of GMA’s State of the Nation Address. “Yet the painful truth is that data shows poverty levels have not been reduced; they have, in fact, increased over her watch. Pervasive corruption has not

Press ReleaseJuly 27, 2009 “There is nothing to stop any congressman from taking the floor this afternoon and moving for the inclusion of Con-Ass as an additional item in the agenda,” warns independent Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan of today’s scheduled joint session after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address

FREEMAN Opinion Philippine Star July 17, 2009  Baby Boomers, or those born between 1945 and 1965, but most especially those who grew up in the 1960s, will get a strange kind of feeling, akin to deja vu, when starting today they will see a bus going around Cebu emblazoned with

Press ReleaseJuly 21, 2009  Independent Senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan extends his sympathies to the daughter of a government drug agent who was raped by alleged drug syndicates. But recent clamor for reimposing the death penalty is not the answer, he says.”The entire system of justice requires a top to bottom