Kiko-Bam’s struggle against the odds: Will they make it?

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Based on a recent survey, Bam Aquino appears to be the only one from the Kiko-Bam tandem with a fighting chance, ranking between 11th and 18th; Kiko Pangilinan trails at 17th to 19th place

It’s the homestretch of the election season. On Monday, May 5, Pulse Asia Research — one of the country’s most trusted polling firms — released its final survey results, just a week before the midterm elections on May 12.

Based on the survey, Bam Aquino appears to be the only one from the Kiko-Bam tandem with a fighting chance, ranking between 11th and 18th, while Kiko Pangilinan trails at 17th to 19th place.

For two consecutive elections already, the candidates closely associated with the once-powerful Liberal Party (LP) have failed to secure a win. In 2019, Bam Aquino lost his reelection bid, finishing 14th out of 62 candidates. In 2022, Kiko Pangilinan was defeated in the vice-presidential race, while Aquino opted not to run and instead served as campaign manager for former vice president Leni Robredo’s presidential bid. (READ: Bam Aquino’s reelection loss: A case of miscalculation?)

Their 2025 campaign strategy is clear: distance themselves from the “yellow” brand, now seen as a political liability. When Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential race, most of the LP congressmen jumped ship and joined Duterte’s PDP Laban. This is common in Philippine politics, where resources and political survival are anchored on the ruling party. (READ: The fall of the ‘dilawang’ Liberal Party)

Aquino is running under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), a party that was formed in 2021 to supposedly boost Robredo’s campaign, while Pangilinan is running under LP. Despite this, the two maintain that they are running an independent campaign.

During their campaign kickoff on February 11, Aquino distanced their tandem from the opposition label, saying they had never identified themselves as such. Pangilinan, meanwhile, expressed his willingness to set aside politics and work with the administration. This stance disappointed many “pink” supporters, who had hoped they would take a stronger political stand amid the ongoing power struggle between the Marcos and Duterte camps.

The LP was heavily demonized during the Duterte administration. Its politicians were subjected to relentless attacks — an onslaught of disinformation that targeted Robredo primarily significantly undermined her 2022 presidential campaign.

Political analyst Jean Franco said that Kiko-Bam’s strategy might not work in their favor. “Actually, it may not be beneficial because it’s like they’re neither here nor there. And most of the time, when you’re like that, voters can’t really read you. So the tendency is for people to forget about you or veer away from you,” she added.

But despite the poor performance of the two in pre-election surveys, Franco said that they still have chances of breaking into the so-called Magic 12 on polling day.

“Normally, those ranked between 8 to 12 bring surprises on election day itself. So, we might actually see some surprises there. That’s probably where Pangilinan and Aquino can pin their hopes,” she said.

Weeks ago, rumors circulated that the Kiko-Bam tandem would be adopted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate, which both camps denied. It was not a far-fetched idea since the administration could rely on them to vote for Vice President Sara Duterte’s conviction in her looming impeachment trial. Senate President Chiz Escudero set the trial for July 30.

“That can happen. After all, only the administration can reach the grassroots, all the way to the farthest corners of the Philippines. So I expect that we’ll see, at the last minute, posters and sample ballots with some strange combinations of candidates,” Franco said.

Food security, education platforms

In the Philippines, where senators are elected nationally, it’s nearly impossible for voters to thoroughly assess the track records and platforms of all 66 candidates.

How can anyone expect voters to remember which candidate supports which platform or advocacy? This is why only a few candidates make the effort to seriously discuss their platforms during the campaign. For most, the priority is simple: make their name stick in the minds of Filipinos by election day. This is the sad reality of Philippine elections.

Regardless, Pangilinan and Aquino consistently made a conscious effort to discuss their platforms during campaign sorties, hoping their message would resonate with voters.

Pangilinan is running on a platform centered on food security. If elected, he plans to push for increased funding for the agriculture sector and prioritize the welfare of food producers. He also advocates for the institutionalization of a national feeding program that would provide free breakfasts in schools, arguing that hunger is a key factor contributing to the country’s severe learning crisis.

On the other hand, Aquino aims to secure jobs for Filipino graduates. Having championed the Free College Tuition Law during his previous Senate term, he now calls for its full implementation. He emphasized that support should go beyond free tuition, advocating for funding of other provisions in the law, such as subsidies for students in private schools.

Both Aquino and Pangilinan have secured endorsements from various sectors, including incumbent politicians and celebrities. However, history shows that celebrity endorsements do not guarantee electoral success. Case in point: Robredo’s presidential bid in 2022 and former US vice president Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign in 2024.

Will their advocacy for food security and education be enough to secure a Senate comeback? – Rappler.com