Kiko: Reject other VP bets, who might put Leni at risk

Vice presidential candidate Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan appealed to the public to reject other vice presidential bets being paired with Vice President Leni Robredo, saying a different person in the position could put Robredo at risk if she wins the presidency.

"Gawin na rin pong Youth for Leni at Kiko sana. Baka mayroon pang isingit na iba," Pangilinan said during a campaign stop in Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

(The 'Youth for Leni' should also be 'Youth for Leni and Kiko.' Because somebody might sneak in.)

"Kailangang protektahan natin si Vice President Leni. Pag iba nanalo dyan, baka [may] planuhin at gumawa nang hindi maganda hindi ba?" Pangilinan added.

(We need to protect Vice President Leni. If another vice presidential candidate wins, that person could plan something sinister.)

Some quarters have been pairing Robredo up with other vice presidential candidates, including Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Robredo, however, has emphasized that she will only be campaigning for Pangilinan for the 2022 vice presidential race.

Fisherfolk rights

Meanwhile, Pangilinan stressed that only the Leni-Kiko tandem will stand for the rights of fisherfolk amid a fresh declaration from China that it exercises sovereignty over Panatag Shoal which has been deemed a common fishing ground by an international tribunal in the Hague.

“Walang paligoy-ligoy. Ipagtatanggol ng Leni-Kiko tandem ang ating karapatan, ang mga mangingisda at ang buong Pilipinas laban sa sinumang mananakop [No beating around the bush. the Leni-Kiko tandem will champion our right, our fisherfolk, and the Philippines against any invader],” Pangilinan said in response to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin insisting that the Panatag Shoal is part of its “inherent territory” and that Beijing has sole jurisdiction over it.

Pangilinan said China’s confidence in claiming Panatag is a result of the Duterte administration’s kow-towing to China despite the Philippines’ victory in the international court.

“Sino ang nagpapasok sa China sa loob ng ating bakuran? Nagpapapasok ng kanilang smuggled na gulay? Nagbibigay ng bilyon-bilyong-pisong kontrata sa Pharmally ng overpriced at substandard na mga PPEs [Personal Protective Equipment]?” he asked.

(Who let China into our back yard? Who let them smuggle in their vegetables? Giving a multi-billion-pero contract to Pharmally for overpriced and substandard PPEs?)

In July 2016, Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration released its decision junking China’s nine-dash line claim of the entire South China Sea.

Panatag Shoal is part of the municipality of Masinloc in Zambales and is located 124 nautical miles west of Zambales or within the 200-nautical-mile Phillipiine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Pangilinan earlier urged the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy to continue patrolling the area to ensure the safety of Filipino fisherfolk in this fishing ground.

Just last March 2, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that a Chinese Coast Guard identified as CCG 3305 was spotted in Panatag shoal and that it maneuvered closely beside PCG patrol ship BRP Malabrigo. — BM, GMA News