Donate

KWEBA ni BAROK

Kiko Aquino Dee Nothing More but a Political Opportunist

Published by

Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

on

Kiko Aquino Dee Nothing More but a Political Opportunist

By Hail to the Chair — December 4, 2025

WHO is “Kiko Aquino Dee?”  He was one of the noisy faces in the recent edition of the so-called Trillion Peso March held last November 30.  This guy is also the maternal grandson of the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy”Aquino Jr. and the late but largely unlamented President Corazon Aquino.  

Ninoy Aquino is best remembered as the popular and charismatic leader of the political opposition during the authoritarian regime of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.  Corazon Aquino was the President whose gross incompetence in Malacañang made the Philippines the power outage (brownout) capital of the world during her miserable tenure. 

“When your only platform is your lolo’s last name, don’t be shocked if the stage collapses.”

Going back to Dee, his recent participation in a matter of transcendental public interest and concern is an invitation to press criticism and scrutiny.  On that premise, suffice it to say that he is a crass political opportunist of the lowest possible order.  

Dee is the son of Victoria “Viel” Aquino and a certain Richard Dee.  He was born in 1991, which means that all he says about the strongman administration of President Marcos Sr. is either hearsay, or from reading materials which, based on the tenor of his public remarks, are written by allies of his maternal grandparents.  He has no first hand knowledge of what took place during those years, notwithstanding is attempt to make it appear that he does. 

It is easily noticed that this guy identifies himself not as Kiko Dee plain and simple, but as “Kiko Aquino Dee.”  It seems that he is not satisfied with using just his first or nickname followed by his surname, as others do.  No, this guy wants to emphasize that by reason of his middle name, he is an Aquino relative, a member of the political dynasty from Tarlac that produced not just Ninoy and Corazon Aquino, but the late and equally unlamented President Benigno Aquino III and incumbent Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV. 

By insisting on using the name “Kiko Aquino Dee,” this guy tacitly admits that nobody will pay attention to him if he were just a “Kiko Dee.”  To many, this guy cannot convey a public statement worthy of notice by the media unless he is identified as an Aquino relative.  In short, this guy is obviously taking advantage of his middle name.  How his father feels about this is anybody’s guess. 

Dee’s act is nothing new.  

Many will recall Ranjit Shahani, the son of the late Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani and the nephew of the late President Fidel Ramos.  He used to be a nobody in Philippine politics prior to his uncle’s rise to power after the February 1986 EDSA Revolt.  

In an obvious exploitation of his uncle’s name, the guy presented himself to the electorate not as “Ranjit Shahani” but as “Ranjit Ramos Shahani.”  He probably thought he will not get votes simply as “Ranjit Shahani” so he took advantage of his middle name.  That also probably explains why his tenure in the House of Representatives in Congress is forgettable.  

Another political opportunist is incumbent partylist Representative Brian Poe Manzanares, the grandson of the late box office king Fernando Poe Jr. and the son of former Senator Grace Poe.  

In an obvious but crude attempt to capitalize on the fame of his famous grandfather, this guy does not use the name “Brian Llamanzares” but “Brian Poe Llamanzares.”  Even the partylist he ran under bears the name “FPJ Panday Bayanihan Partylist,” an embodiment of the famous initials of his grandfather (FPJ) and the title of his grandfather’s most famous film (Ang Panday).  

Like Shahani before him, the guy knew that he will win an election only by exploting his grandfather’s name.  He was born in the United States and lived there prior to his venture into Philippine politics using the fame of his lolo.  Is his loyalty really with the Filipinos or are we talking about lip service for the ballot box?

Going back to Dee, many people suspect that this guy is preparing for a Senate run soon, and he probably thinks that by discrediting the current administration as frequently as possible under the name “Kiko Aquino Dee,” he may get a seat in the Senate and, in all likelihood, spend his entire term imitating his uncle Bam in the latter’s only skill – to pass himself as a look-alike for Ninoy Aquino.  Take note – just a look-alike, and nothing more.  ■ 

Hail to the Chair

Leave a comment

Hello,

I’m Louis ‘Barok’ Biraogo

Let’s connect

Join the fun!

Stay updated with our latest tutorials and ideas by joining our newsletter.

Recent posts