Risa Hontiveros for President in 2028 movement launched by supporters

A national movement to push a Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel presidency in 2028 was launched by her party allies and several civil society organizations on Friday.

The Risa Na! Movement is led by Akbayan Party-list and Magdalo Party-list, along with support from volunteers, and several civil society groups, mainly composed of grassroots sectors.

In a statement released on Friday, the group said the movement aims to gather support for Ms. Hontiveros’ presidential candidacy in 2028, which entails organizing chapters in schools, workplaces, and communities nationwide.

During the movement’s launch at 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 is recognized for her work amid the country’s political landscape dominated by dynasties.

“Our candidate is an honest leader. She is not known because of her surname, but because of her work. She has done a lot for women,” Ms. David said during the movement launch in Filipino.

“She will also not back down in preventing 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 in the 2028 elections, provided she is selected as the standard-bearer of a unified political opposition.

The Risa Na! Movement also highlighted key legislation championed by Senator Hontiveros during her 16 years as a lawmaker in both 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 children, including the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act, and the First 1,000 Days Law, among other health-related legislation.

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 former 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 latest Pulse Asia survey released in May.

In an earlier presidential preference survey conducted during 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