Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has endorsed the candidacy of former senator Kiko Pangilinan to the Senate in the coming May 2025 midterm polls.

In a Facebook post, the Senate President shared a photo together with Pangilinan and Sorsogon Governor Jose Edwin Hamor while flashing the “Kiko” hand sign.

“Malugod nating tinanggap si dating Senador Kiko Pangilinan sa Sorsogon nitong weekend sa gitna ng kanyang pangangampanya sa Bicol region (We warmly welcomed former Senator Kiko Pangilinan in Sorsogon this weekend in the middle of his campaign here in Bicol region),” Escudero wrote.

Pangilinan barnstormed vote-rich Bicol region over the weekend to share with Bicolanos his advocacies on food security and lower prices of goods.

He also discussed ways on how his landmark bill, the Sagip Saka Act, can help farmers and fisherfolk increase their revenues.

Escudero, who hailed from Sorsogon and is a proud Bicolano, expressed hope that Pangilinan will rejoin him in the coming 20th Congress.

“Napagkwentuhan namin ang mga makabuluhang batas na aming pinagtulungan maipasa noong nagkasama kami sa Senado. Umaasa ako na ang aming magandang samahan ay maipagpapatuloy kung si Sen. Kiko ay papalaring makabalik sa Senado (We talked about the important laws that we helped pass when we were together in the Senate. I am hopeful that our good work can continue if Sen. Kiko will return to the Senate),” he added.

Pangilinan is currently in the 13th to 15th place of major pre-election surveys, while schools-based surveys have put him on top.

In 2022, the former senator won in the Bicol Region when he run as vice president, alongside former vice president Leni Robredo.

Pangilinan once jokingly said that he is the “vice president of Bicol.”