Kiko Pangilinan to announce 2016 plan after 'ghost month'

Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has yet to decide if he will run again for senator in the 2016 elections.

 

At the sidelines of the budget briefing in the House of Representatives Tuesday, Pangilinan told reporters that he wants to focus on his job as food security czar.

 

“Wala pang desisyon. May mga listahan at okay naman daw ang performance ko sa surveys pero tutal October pa naman ang deadline [ng filing ng certificates of candidacy], habang nandito tayo, trabaho muna,” he said.

 

Asked if he’s decided on making a comeback to the Senate, Pangilinan said in jest: “Decided na akong magtrabaho.”

 

He said he might announce his political plan when the "Ghost Month” in the Chinese lunar calendar ends on September 12 since he wants to attend to the “unfinished business” in the agencies he has been tasked to oversee.

 

The OPAFSAM supervises the National Food Authority, Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, National Irrigation Authority and the Philippine Coconut Authority.

 

Pangilinan said he is also not privy to the Liberal Party’s political plans even if he remains a party stalwart.

 

“I guess they (LP officials) realized I’m loaded with work at the moment so pinauubaya na nila sa iba ang matters of the party for 2016,” he said. 

 

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, an LP stalwart, earlier said the party is eyeing Pangilinan to be part of the “powerhouse” senatorial ticket that it is forming for the upcoming elections.

 

Aside from Pangilinan, Evardone said the ruling party is also considering the inclusion of Senate President Franklin Drilon, Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, former senator Panfilo Lacson, and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in its senatorial slate. —ALG, GMA News