Although his campaign has been mired by a smear campaign and the spread of fake news and disinformation on social media, senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan is banking on his supporters, endorsements, and track record on the final stretch of the campaign season.

Speaking to supporters during the “Kita Kiks sa Cebu Rally" held at Plaza Independencia in Cebu City on Wednesday night, May 7, the former three-term senator called himself a “valedictorian of fake news” because of the deluge of disinformation thrown his way during the campaign.

“Ako na ata ang valedictorian ng fake news na kandidato sa dami ng ibinabato sa atin. Pero dahil nariyan kayo, dahil kayo ang mangungumbinsi rin, tatlong araw na lamang labanan natin ang paninira. Panalunin natin ang katotohanan (I may be the valedictorian of fake news because of everything that was thrown at me. But because you are there, because you are persuading [voters], let’s fight against the smear campaign these next three days. Let’s win for the truth),” he said.

Pangilinan then urged supporters to go on a house-to-house campaign for the “Kiko-Bam” tandem, referring to former senator Bam Aquino, who’s also seeking a Senate seat.

He also asked his supporters to share “the truth” about him and his candidacy and to upload and share on social media his platform and the various endorsements he received from local officials, religious organizations, artists, influencers, and from the Muslim community.

“Tatlong araw, matindi, mahigpit ang labanan (In three days, the fight is tough and fierce),” the former senator said.

Pangilinan, who’s running on the platform of food security and lower prices of food, was recently endorsed by Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, Jesus Is Lord (JIL) leader Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Senator Joel Villanueva, Marawi City Mayor Majul Gandamra, as well as some leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro party.

Addressing his Cebuano supporters, Pangilinan shared his gratitude for Garcia’s endorsement since the province has the biggest voting population in the country.

“Malaking bagay ito dahil gaya ng nabanggit ko kanina wala tayong malaking makinarya pero ngayon dahil sa One Cebu, dahil sa endorsement ni Governor Gwen, meron tayong malaking makinarya dito sa Cebu (This is a huge thing because as I mentioned earlier, we do not have a big machinery but because of One Cebu, because of the endorsement of Governor Gwen, we now have a big machinery here in Cebu),” he said.

These endorsements, the former senator explained, meant only one thing: that the likes of Garcia, Villanueva, Gandamra, and even artists such as Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, Piolo Pascual, and many others, were not fooled by the fake news against him.

“Hindi sila naniniwala sa kasinungalingan. Nakita nila ang katotohanan tungkol sa ating kakayahan kaya tayo inendorso at sinusuportahan (They do not believe the lies. They see the truth about our capacity so they endorsed and supported me),” he said.

“Ang ating pakiusap dahil walang patid ang paninira, walang patid ang kasinungalingan, sa huling tatlong araw, pwe-pwede ba tulungan natin ang ating kandidatura para ipanalo ang katotohanan upang talunin ang kasinungalingan at paninira. Pwede ba iyon (My request to you because there’s an unrelenting smear campaign, continuous lies, in the last three days, can you help my candidacy to win for the truth, to win against the lies. Can you do that)?,” he asked.

Pangilinan urged Filipinos to vote based on track record and not to vote for candidates who have lied to the public, stolen from public coffers, and abused their positions.

In his three terms as senator and over 20 years in public service, he took pride in his name never having been involved in any anomaly.

“Tatlong termino, ni minsan wala kayong narinig na ako'y nasangkot sa anumang kasong anomalya. Dahil pag kayo ay pinaglilingkuran, dapat tapat, dapat totoo. Hindi dapat nagtataksil ang mga pulitiko. Hindi dapat nagtataksil ang lingkod bayan (Three terms, never did you hear me get involved in any anomaly. Because we should serve you truthfully and honestly. Politicians should not betray you. Public servants should not be traitors),” he said.

In the rally, Pangilinan was joined by his wife, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, and other celebrities, including Pascual, Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma, Pinky Amador, and Darren Espanto.