Vice presidential candidate Kiko Pangilinan has voted in the May 9 elections, hoping to secure a come from behind victory as a third placer in surveys to forward his food security agenda.
Together with his wife, Actress Sharon Cuneta, the senator of over 18 years cast his vote after three hours of waiting in line at Inchican Elementary School in Silang, Cavite.
"Mabigat ang nakataya sa May 9 dahil kinabukasan nating lahat ang nakataya," Pangilinan said during the Leni-Kiko miting de avance in Naga City late Friday.
ALSO READ:
What Kiko Pangilinan's Moment with Pampanga Farmers Means for VP Race
RC Cola Feels: Kiko Pangilinan Ad Lets Ampalaya Do the Sweet Talk
"At ang nakita natinn nitong nakaraang dalawang taon, sa pamumuno ng COVID response, na kung saan sa halip na tugunan ang pangangailangan ng tuambayan ay ninakaw pa ang COVID funds. Hindi ito tama," he said.
"Pag tayo po ay nagkamali at pinili yung mga malalapit dito sa mga nagsamantala ay tuloy-tuloy ang katiwalian, tuloy-tuloy ang kalokohan, tuloy-tuloy ang pag-abuso papayag ba tayo dun?" he said.
Like Leni Robredo, his running mate, it has been an uphill battle for the veteran senator, having decided to run for the vice presidency last minute. Aside from placing third in the surveys, lagging behind Sara Duterte and Tito Sotto, Pangilinan also had to deal with politicians paring Robredo with Duterte.
Running on a platform of food security, Pangilinan had drafted his "Megastar" wife and showbiz nieces and nephews to give his campaign a much-needed boost.
But his most important endorsement, analysts noted, had come from a group of farmers who raised his hands when politicians declined to, illustrating the impact of endorsements from ordinary people in an electoral campaign landscape obsessed with star power.
A week before election day, the "Leni-Kiko" tandem were the most searched candidates for the two highest positions in the country based on Google Trends data.