With only less than a week before election day, aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan told voters to take a break from fake news-filled social media.
Pangilinan said taking a break from social networking sites would prevent fake news from influencing their votes come May 9.
"Siguro mag-take a break muna from social media kasi ang daming fake news, e (Perhaps, take a break from social media for now because there are a lot of fake news there)," the senator said during a press conference in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday, May 4.
As the campaign period is coming to an end, the aspiring vice president reminded the voters to not let lies be the basis of choosing who to vote for in the elections.
"Maging mabusisi tayo, tiyakin natin na ang basehan natin ng desisyon ay ang katotohanan at hindi ang kasinungalingan dahil kung tayo'y magpapasya based on kasinungalin, ay kumuha na lang tayo ng bato, ipukpok natin sa ulo natin dahil naniniwala tayo sa hindi totoo, lahat tayo kawawa (Let's be more discerning, make sure that the basis of our decisions in the truth and not lies because of we decide based on lies then we are just causing ourselves harm because we believe in lies, we will all suffer)," Pangilinan said.
The lawmaker, who advocates for the agriculture and fisheries sectors, further said that aside from the truth, may voters also decide based on track record and the capacity of the candidate.
"Let's vote on the basis of what is true, the track records, ano yung (the) capacity, and I'm sure we will bring the country to a much better place with leaders who are qualified, competent, with integrity and hindi lamang nangangako, gumagawa na ng solusyon (who do not just say promises but are coming up with solutions),"he said.
Talking about the latest pre-election survey where Pangilinan trails behind vice presidential candidates Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto, Pangilinan said "it is now irrelevant."
He cited previous survey results of winning candidates which peaked at the homestretch of campaigns, saying it can be the case this time around.
"So yung resulta ng survey na 'yan na three-weeks old, I'm sure ibang iba na ngayon 'yan (The result of that three-week old survey, I'm sure us now very different)," Pangilinan said.
"Yung poll na 'yan, three weeks ago, hindi na 'yan relevant o current, iba na ang sitwasyon ngayon (That three-year-old poll is no longer relevant or current, the situation is different now)," he added.