Pangilinan urges UP Diliman to take a 'bolder stand' on elections; deplores 'wasted' opportunity'
Aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan tagged as "wasted" opportunity the call of his alma mater to not vote for candidates from political dynasties that "entrench corruption and patronage" but failed to name any.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman could have issued a "braver" statement and dropped the names of the candidates who must not be voted for in the May 9 elections, Pangilinan, a UP Diliman alumnus, said.
"Bakit hindi pa binanggit ang pangalan ng mga tinutukoy nilang hindi karapat dapat ihalal (Why did they not mention the names of those candidates that are not worthy of votes)?" Pangilinan vented on Twitter Thursday, May 5.
The senator, who was a former member of the UP Board of Regents as a student representative, called on his alma mater to reissue a stronger statement on the national elections, similar to the bold stance taken the university' on critical national issues during his time as a student leader.
"Ang UP na kinagisnan ko nung student leader pa ako at umuupo sa Board of Regents nung dekada 80 hindi takot isiwalat ang buong katotohanan (The UP that I know when I was still a student leader and part of the Board of Regents in the 80s is not afraid to expose the whole truth). History is a harsh judge. Sayang (It's a waste), UP Diliman," Pangilinan said.
Bakit hindi pa binanggit ang pangalan ng mga tinutukoy nilang hindi karapat dapat ihalal? Ang UP na kinagisnan ko nung student leader pa ako at umuupo sa Board of Regents nung dekada 80 hindi takot isiwalat ang buong katotohanan. History is a harsh judge. Sa yang, UP Diliman. pic.twitter.com/tWQ8aaH3Q6
— Kiko Pangilinan (@kikopangilinan) May 4, 2022
He said there is still time to issue a much stronger statement and take a bolder stand.
"UP Diliman, may oras pa kayo baguhin ang naging posisyon at maglabas ng mas matapang na pahayag na nauukol sa tawag ng panahon. Palaban ang tunay UP, 'yan ang totoo (UP Diliman, you still have time to change your stand and reissue a braver statement that is relevant today. The real UP is a fighter, that's the truth.)," Pangilinan stressed.
UP Diliman University Council released a statement on May 4, calling on the public to critically evaluate their choices for the top positions in the government.
Although the university encouraged the public to choose candidates with integrity and clean track record and reject those with record of corruption, lying, human right abuses, tax evasion, and ill-gotten wealth, it neither mentioned any candidates nor endorsed anyone.