Multi-awarded writer Jose Dalisay Jr. reminded the supporters of Senators Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV that they are not just answerable to the “pinklawans,” a term referring to the opposition, as both are being heavily criticized for joining the Senate majority bloc.

In an article written on his personal online blog, Dalisay appealed to supporters to give both senators, who backed Senate President Francis Escudero, the benefit of the doubt.

“But for what they’ve already done and could yet do, I think Bam and Kiko deserve our trust. Let’s cut them some slack and give them a chance. We pinklawans aren’t the only voters they’re answerable to,” he wrote.

He reminded supporters that Aquino advocated for educational reforms and Pangilinan for agricultural reforms when they both campaigned for the 2025 polls.

“Their acceptance of the agriculture and education chairmanships should help ensure and strengthen their ability to pursue these progressive initiatives further—regardless of how they think about and vote on other issues of national consequence, such as the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte, the national budget, our foreign policy, and constitutional change,” Dalisay said.

It is too early to criticize them for their choice to chair the Committees on Education for Aquino and Agriculture for Pangilinan, which were both promised by Escudero should they back his senate presidency.

“We have yet to see—as their critics already seem to have foretold—if they will cherish their chairmanships to the extent of abandoning their fundamental principles,” he said.

“Instead I foresee the greater likelihood of the reverse happening: of Bam and Kiko relinquishing their posts should their stay there prove morally untenable. If they were to perform well in their Senate positions, and they were then stripped of their chairmanships for their independent stances, then that still would be more emphatic than if they had never assumed the responsibilities that are also their entitlements, according to their competencies,” he added.

Both senators, he stressed, must “prove themselves once more at their jobs and serve the Filipino to the best of their ability.”

Doing what they promised to do, Dalisay said, would help in whatever the two senators plan in 2028.

Pangilinan and Aquino have drawn criticisms from their own base supporters, primarily for siding with Escudero after he allegedly derailed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and for abandoning Senator Risa Hontiveros in the minority bloc.

Hontiveros has earlier said there are no ill feelings among them, while former vice president and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and former senate president Franklin Drilon also expressed support for Aquino’s and Pangilinan’s decision.