Senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan hit back at trolls who criticized him for sipping soup, saying at least he never did the same to public funds.
In a social media post on Thursday, April 24, Pangilinan countered back at criticisms, saying he is confident he never stole money from the public funds, which should be rightfully used for food security.
"Natawa ang marami sa paghigop ko ng sabaw, pero alam ko po na kailanman, hindi ko hinigop ang pera ng bayan. Pera na dapat para sa masaganang pagkain at masaganang buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino (Many laughed at the way I sipped my soup, but I know that never did I sip from the people's money. Money that should be used to maintain abundant food and prosperous life for every Filipino family)," Pangilinan said in an X post.
In a separate social media post on Friday, the former senator issued a reminder to the public to never be consumed by fake news.
"Huwag pahigop sa fake news (Do not fall for fake news)," Pangilinan said as he urged voters to instead look at his track record.
"Marami nang nagawa at naipasang batas si Kiko Pangilinan, at madaragdagan pa kapag nakabalik sa Senado sa tulong ninyo (Kiko Pangilinan has already accomplished and passed many laws, and even more if I return to the Senate with your help)," he told voters.
The senatorial candidate was also the subject of disinformation online after he was seen eating from a pot cover in a food blog collaboration with social media personality Romeo Catacutan.
Aside from calling the attacks against him as "desperate," he also claimed that it was an “orchestrated” and “well-funded” disinformation campaign with an attempt to sabotage his senatorial bid.