Senatorial candidate Kiko Panglinan brought his anti-hunger and food security platform to Lanao del Norte as he barnstormed the province to introduce his Sagip Saka Act and his proposed “Libreng Almusal (Free Breakfast)” program.

Senatorial candidate Kiko Pangilinan poses for a photo with supporters in Lanao del Norte (Team Kiko Pangilinan)

Speaking before members of the Northwestern Mindanao Front - Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (NWMF-BIAF-MILF) on Saturday, April 26, the former senator said there could be no peace and development in the conflict-torn region if hunger persists.

“Napakahalaga ng adhikaing from arms to farms. Naniniwala ako (The advocacy from arms to farms is very important. I believe that) the future of the Philippines when it comes to peace and prosperity cannot happen unless we invest in agriculture and food,” he said.

“Walang kapayapaan kung ang mga kababayan natin ay gutom. Walang kapayapaan kung ang ating magsasaka at mangingisda ay kapos. Walang kapayapaan kapag mataas ang mga presyo ng bilihin at pagkain. Kinakailangan ayusin natin ang pagkakalam ng ating mga sikmura (There can be no peace if our countrymen are hungry. There can be no peace if our farmers and fishermen are lacking. There can be no peace if the prices of goods and food are high. We need to fix our gnawing stomachs) and food security is critical if we are to move toward peace progress and development,” he added.

His advocacy for food security earned him the endorsement of MILF’s NWMF-BIAF Front Commander and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament member Hon. Abdullah Macapaar, Al-Hajj, also known as Commander Bravo.

The Commander expressed support for Pangilinan's Senate comeback bid, following their meeting at Camp Bilal Ben Rabbah in Barangay Tamparan, Munai, Lanao del Norte.

The former senator, who was also the Aquino administration’s food security czar from 2014 to 2015, discussed the importance of fully implementing the Sagip Saka Act to uplift the agricultural sector in the BARMM.

Passed in 2019, the law that Pangilinan principally authored now allows national and local governments to buy food directly from agricultural workers, such as farmers and fisherfolk.

In his speech, he also told the crowd of his proposed Free Breakfast program, which will provide free breakfast meals to students from daycare to senior high school in public schools.

Despite coming from different faiths, the former senator underscored the importance of unity in bridging social gaps and achieving peace and progress in the country.

“We are all Filipinos regardless of our faith, and for us to move forward, unity is (unclear) and for us to be united, we must be able to understand one another. And for us to be able to understand one another, we must have conversations. We must converse and exchange ideas, we must share what we value, we must together forge a path of peace for our nation,” he said.

With only 16 days before Election Day, the former senator appealed to the NWMF-BIAF-MILF members for support, urging them to choose leaders who they can trust and has a track record in good governance.

“I come to you and appeal to you as a candidate. I believe it is my solemn duty as a candidate to win for the sake of good governance, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of unity. And I pray that you, too, will embrace this cause,” Pangilinan added.

“Sixteen days, eleksyon na. Tayo nasa Top 12, pero lima kami (In only 16 days, it will be the elections. We are in the Top 12 but five of us are vying), so every vote counts. Pakiusap po natin, ilabas sa Facebook, Tiktok ang ating pag suporta sa aking kandidatura (I appeal to you to share on Facebook, Tiktok why you are supporting my candidacy.”