Sen. Risa Hontiveros Photo from Facebook/@hontiverosrisa
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Risa Hontiveros, long regarded as the lone opposition voice in the Philippine Senate, welcomed what she described as the resurgence of principled, pro-democracy voices in Congress following the results of the 2025 midterm elections.
In a press statement issued on May 13, Hontiveros declared: “This is not a simple return. This election proves that the Filipino people still long for a government with heart, with principles, and the courage to stand its ground.”
Hontiveros served as the only member of the 2022 opposition coalition to win a Senate seat, placing 11th in that year’s senatorial race under the Team Robredo-Pangilinan (TRoPa) slate.
Throughout the 19th Congress, she stood as a key critic of the Marcos administration and was later joined in the Senate minority bloc by Senator Koko Pimentel. She was also named Senate Deputy Minority Leader in 2022.
With the return of former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan to the Senate in the 2025 polls, Hontiveros is no longer a solitary voice. “Welcome back to my friends, Senator Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino,” she said. “Your voices are exactly what we need in the Senate today.”
Both Aquino and Pangilinan, who had lost in the 2022 elections, surprised political observers with strong comebacks, finishing among the top 12 in the senatorial race—despite not appearing in most pre-election surveys’ “Magic 12.”
Hontiveros also celebrated the top-ranked victory of Akbayan Partylist, a progressive group she has long been affiliated with. Akbayan topped the 2025 partylist race with 2,779,621 votes, securing three seats in the House of Representatives, according to final official results from the Commission on Elections.
“I am deeply grateful to Akbayan’s loyal supporters who carried our party across every corner of the country,” she said. “And to the new faces who took a chance on our movement, thank you for the trust. A special shoutout to the youth vote—this election’s game-changer!”
She further expressed excitement over the congressional return of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist, led by former senator and human rights advocate Leila de Lima. De Lima, who was imprisoned for nearly six years and later acquitted, will be serving as the ML Partylist’s first nominee in the House. Her return is being viewed by many as a symbolic victory for the rule of law and justice reform.
“In Congress, I’m glad that Akbayan will be joined by Mamamayang Liberal Partylist under Leila de Lima in the pursuit of justice, human rights, and clean governance,” said Hontiveros.
Summing up what she described as a historic moment for the democratic opposition, Hontiveros underscored the electorate’s priorities: “Raise wages. Lower prices. Make education accessible. And hold those in power accountable.”
“With Senators Kiko and Bam back in the Senate, and with Akbayan and ML Partylist in the House, we will once again stand prouder, stronger, and more prepared for the challenges ahead,” she said.
“To the millions who have joined our cause: welcome. We can do this.”
