• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As he expressed his appreciation to Negros Occidental for his return to the Senate, senator-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan assured the Negrenses of his help, especially those in the agricultural sector.
Pangilinan, who ran as an independent candidate, ranked fifth in the Senate race, garnering a total of 590,475 votes in Negros Occidental.
“The Negrenses carried me to victory,” the returning senator said.
Thanking Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for his support during the May 12 elections campaign, Pangilinan said he would like to know the governor’s advocacies in order for him to provide the support he needs.
“We will work with him. I know we can work with him through the Senate,” he added.
Pangilinan said he is hoping to get the chairmanship of the Senate committee on agriculture in the 20th Congress which starts on July 28.
“That’s what I promised our voters,” he said.
However, Pangilinan remained tight-lipped on whether he will support incumbent Senate President Francis Escudero.
“In my case, whoever is the Senate President, my interest is reforms in the agricultural sector. And I would be in the best position to do that being the chairman of the committee on agriculture,” he added. | GB
