Kiko Pangilinan's Senate bid gets backing from Gatchalian brothers

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian and brother, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, endorsed the 2025 Senate comeback bid of former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday.

The Gatchalians made the endorsement during Pangilinan's courtesy call to the mayor.

“Ang trabaho po namin ay gumagawa ng batas, pero pakonti nang pakonti ang mga abogado sa loob ng Senado. Si Senator Kiko, bilang isang abogado, marami siyang maitutulong sa ating bansa,” Senator Gatchalian said.

(Our work is to craft laws, but the number of senator- lawyers who are Senators is decreasing. Senator Kiko, as a lawyer, will be able to contribute a lot to the betterment of our country.)

The Gatchalians lauded Pangilinan for the latter’s authorship of the Sagip Saka Act, which allows local government to directly buy produce from local farmers at competitive prices without the need of public bidding or middleman.

Mayor Gatchalian said the Valenzuela local government utilizes the said law to purchase rice from Isabela farmers for its social programs, particularly for its products for its annual gift-giving initiative for senior citizens.

“Dahil sa batas niya, nakaka-discount tayo at higit sa lahat, hindi natin tinitipid ang rice subsidy natin.  Ang batas ni Senator Kiko ay napakalaking bagay sa mga lokal na pamahalaan gaya ng Valenzuela,” Mayor Gatchalian said.

(Because of his law, we are able to purchase at discounted prices and we are able to maximize government subsidy.)

Senator Gatchalian said Pangilinan’s law helps increase the income of farmers and fisherfolk and strengthen food security in the country.

After the program with Pangilinan, Mayor Gatchalian also showed Pangilinan a scale model of the Metro Manila Subway Depot and North-South Commuter Railway Depot, highlighting the city’s role in advancing major infrastructure projects.

Pangilinan served as senator from 2001 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2022. He also served as a food security czar during the administration of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III from 2014 to 2015. —Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.