Former Senator Kiko Pangilinan has declared the rise of a “third political force” in the country following his successful bid in the 2025 midterm elections, alongside his ally, former Senator Bam Aquino. Pangilinan, who secured fifth place with 15,290,525 votes, emphasized that their win signaled a rejection of the dominant political groups linked to the Marcoses and Dutertes.
“Our victory is a rejection of both in that sense, otherwise we should have lost and some of them should have won,” Pangilinan told INQUIRER.net’s InqToday.
The former senator’s remarks came after former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson assessed that the strong performance of Pangilinan and Aquino was a result of a split among factions aligned with the Dutertes and the current administration. Aquino placed second with 20,895,171 votes, further solidifying their influence.
Pangilinan attributed their success to a growing public desire for change, as reflected in the victories of Akbayan and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-lists, led by Atty. Chel Diokno and former Senator Leila de Lima. He noted that many voters are primarily concerned with addressing critical issues such as food security, job creation, and inflation.
“If I’m the one being asked, I’d like to focus on what we promised the voters—manage food security, focus on strengthening the agriculture and fishery sector,” Pangilinan stated in Filipino.
Regarding the future of the “pink movement,” a grassroots campaign that emerged during the 2022 presidential elections, Pangilinan said it must expand its reach beyond its traditional supporters.
“I think the pink movement is evolving and it should not be the pink movement, we should really reach out,” he emphasized, adding that it is crucial to avoid echo chambers and engage with a broader audience.
Moving forward, Pangilinan said he hopes to maintain a clear stance against corruption, injustice, and abuses in government, while continuing to advocate for solutions to the country’s most urgent problems.
