Kiko Pangilinan to supporters: Don’t pick fight amid political squabble

FILE PHOTO: Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan is appealing to supporters to refrain from fomenting conflict amid the verbal sparring between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called on his supporters to refrain from fomenting conflict amid the verbal sparring between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.

“With due respect, this and other similar messages […] DO NOT help advance the cause we fought for then and continue to fight for now,” Pangilinan, running mate of former vice president Leni Robredo in the 2022 national polls, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday.

LOOK: Former senator and 2022 vice-presidential bet Kiko Pangilinan shares his perspective on the phrase "TAMA NGA KAMI" that has been trending on social media in response to the recent in-fighting within the so-called "UniTeam" alliance. pic.twitter.com/yG4cbq9yec

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) February 1, 2024

Pangilinan was referring to memes and social media posts bearing the phrase, “tama nga kami” (we are correct), which recently trended on the internet.

Supporters of Pangilinan and Robredo sent out the message following the fierce barbs between former president Duterte and his successor Marcos as they aimed to emphasize and affirm their beliefs that the alliance of Marcos and Dutertes in the 2022 elections was not built to last.

READ: Marcos-Duterte alliance shaken as battle lines drawn

Robredo and Pangilinan ran but lost against Marcos and Sara Duterte – a tandem under the “UniTeam” coalition backed by Rodrigo Duterte – in the 2022 presidential and vice presidential races, respectively.

“We need to persuade and convince. We do not need to ridicule and insult,” Pangilinan told supporters.

“Kailangan natin makipagusap at makinig hindi itong manginsulto at makipagaway,” he added.

(We need to communicate and listen, not insult and pick a fight.)

On January 28, in a rally that the Dutertes staged in their hometown, Davao City, former president Duterte accused President Marcos of being a drug addict. His son, Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, even called on Marcos to resign.

“You are lazy, and you lack compassion,” Baste Duterte said.

The assembly in Davao City coincided with the Marcos administration-supported “Bagong Pilipinas” rally in Manila.

Marcos brushed aside allegations that he was a drug addict. But he shot back at his predecessor: “I think it’s the fentanyl” speaking.

READ: ‘It’s the fentanyl,’ Marcos says after former president Duterte tags him ‘drug addict’

“Fentanyl is the strongest pain killer that you can buy,” Marcos said. “It is highly addictive, and it has very serious side effects. And PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) has been taking the drug for a very long time now. When was the last time he told us that he was taking fentanyl? [About] five, six years ago, something like that. After five, six years, it has to affect [him]. [That’s why he’s like that.] I hope his doctors take better care of him.”