‘Uninspired, ’ ‘burned out’ Kiko hesitant on running in 2016

DESPITE topping the recent Social Weather Stations survey of senatorial preferences, presidential assistant on food security and former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Wednesday said he is still uncertain if he would run in the 2016 elections.

Pangilinan said being in government service was “thankless” and “cruel.”

“I am uninspired,” he said in an interview with ANC Headstart. “Sabi nila, ‘are you going to run again?’ Sabi ko, after 12 years in the Senate and over a year here in the executive department, you’re burned out, you’re tired.”

“And then it’s so thankless pa. Being in government service, it’s not only thankless. It’s cruel. Your reputation is torn to bits so easily. Parang, part of you says, gusto mo ba ‘yun?” he said.

But Pangilinan, who was appointed food security chief in May 2014, clarified that he has always been thankful for being elected and appointed to office, adding that he is yet to study his political plans next year.

“This is something I really have to look into more seriously,” he said.