A national movement to push a Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel presidency in 2028 was launched by her party allies and a number of other civil society organizations on Friday.
The Risa Na! Movement is led by Akbayan Party-list and Magdalo Party-list, together with support from volunteers, and a number of other civil society groups, mainly composed of grassroots sectors.
In an announcement released on Friday, the group said the movement goals to collect support for Ms. Hontiveros’ presidential candidacy in 2028, which entails organizing chapters in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.
Through the movement’s launch on the Ang Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, key speakers highlighted Ms. Hontiveros’ prolific work during her years as a lawmaker and her long crusade for good governance as key qualities that make her deserving of being a presidential candidate.
Rafaela David of Akbayan Party-list said in her speech that Ms. Hontiveros is a trustworthy candidate who’s recognized for her work amid the country’s political landscape dominated by dynasties.
“Our candidate is an honest leader. She just isn’t known due to her surname, but due to her work. She has done so much for girls,” Ms. David said through the movement launch in Filipino.
“She may even not back down in stopping the return of extrajudicial killings and in stopping corruption in flood control projects,” she added.
Senator Hontiveros has yet to formally announce her presidential bid, but she has expressed in various interviews that she is open and willing to run for president within the 2028 elections, provided she is chosen because the standard-bearer of a unified political opposition.
The Risa Na! Movement also highlighted key laws championed by Senator Hontiveros during her 16 years as a lawmaker in each chambers of Congress.
Since she was first elected senator in 2016 and is currently serving her final term, Ms. Hontiveros has championed several measures benefiting women and youngsters, including the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, and the First 1,000 Days Law, amongst other health-related laws.
Ms. Hontiveros also spearheaded Senate investigations into former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo’s alleged fraudulent citizenship and her ties to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs).
The previous mayor was later found guilty of qualified human trafficking by a Pasig court and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
If Ms. Hontiveros formalizes her presidential bid and becomes the opposition’s standard-bearer, she could face current frontrunner Vice President Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, who posted a 51% voter preference rating in the most recent Pulse Asia survey released in May.
In an earlier presidential preference survey conducted through the first quarter, Ms. Hontiveros registered only 2% voter preference, trailing her allies, former Vice President Maria Leni G. Robredo and Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV. — Edg Adrian A. Eva