Pangilinan calls for rejection of 'old politics' to usher genuine socio-political change

MAIGO, Lanao del Norte -- Vice-presidential aspirant Francis Kiko Pangilinan on Thursday called on residents here to reject the return of old politics and their political pawns come May 9 elections.

Speaking at a campaign rally here attended by 1,000-strong crowd, Pangilinan said, "Iyong dating pulitika kinakailangan na nating isantabi."

"Marami sa atin nagsasabi, tuwing eleksyon, ganoon na lamang ng ganoon. Lagi na lamang paikot-ikot. Ang pagbabago ay hindi natin makamtan," he said.

Pangilinan said that Filipinos who want change for the better must vote into office political leaders who will work to genuinely uplift the lives of marginalized Filipinos.

"Tayo po ay naniniwala na dahil kailangan nating piliin iyong mga karapat-dapat base sa kanilang track record para magkaroon talaga ng maayos na panunungkulan. At kung maayos ang panunungkulan doon natin makikita ang pagbabago," he said.

Pangilinan earlier told media he chose not to appear at the 73,000-strong grand rally in Borongan, Eastern Samar at the request of political brokers who were pushing for a different vice-presidential candidate for Robredo.

"Lalabanan natin ang gutom at tututukan ang problema ng kawalan lalo na sa mga probinsyam at bibigyang diin ang agriculture at mga magsasaka at mangingsida. Mas marami pang makukuha tayong suporta," he said in a media interview.

"So hayaan na natin yung mga pulitiko gawin ang gusto nila, pero tayo nakatutok sa ating mga kababayan at sila naman talaga ang magpapasiya pagdating ng araw ng halalan," he added.

Pangilinan said political brokers are mixing tandems because they see the growing momentum of the Leni-Kiko campaign, together with his message to secure the Filipino people's food.

"The people are coming out in tens of thousands. Nararamdaman ng pulitiko 'yon kaya nga ine-endorse na si VP. Eh pagka mas lalo nila maramdaman eh dadating din ang panahon eh baka ako na rin ang i-endorse nila. So, tingnan natin. Marami pang mangyayari," he said.

Pangilinan thanked the people of Borongan for looking for him at the rally.

"Ako'y nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kababayan sa Borongan dahil kahit wala kami roon, hinahanap kami. Ibig sabihin noon, yung taumbayan hinahanap kami. 'Yung mga pulitiko, siguro hindi, o hindi naman lahat, pero maraming pulitiko hindi pa decided," he said.

"Our voters will decide. In the end, ang magpapasiya hindi pulitiko, ang botante," he added.

Robredo has said that she is standing by Pangilinan in her quest for the presidency.

Robredo, Pangilinan, and Tropang Angat senatorial candidates have been pumping flesh and delivering speeches to swing voters in their favor.

In earlier rallies, Pangilinan hammered that only TROPA has the solid vision, sound platform of governance, and the experience to rebuild the country after the disastrous pandemic response of the Duterte administration.

"Pilipinas, ano ba ang nakataya sa Mayo a-nuebe? Kinabukasan ng ating mga anak. Kinabukasan ng kabataan. Kinabukasan ng 110 milyong mamamayan. Napakahalaga," Pangilinan said.

"Ang nakataya ay buhay, hanap buhay, kaligtasan, kalusugan, edukasyon," he said.

Pangilinan and TROPA candidates have barnstormed Eastern Visayas early this week. Today he is in Lanao area, and tomorrow in Bohol.