Hontiveros 'open' to possibility of running in 2028 presidential race
Senator Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday that she is not dismissing the possibility of being the opposition's standard bearer in the 2028 presidential elections.
Hontiveros made the remark during the Kapihan sa Senado forum when asked if she would consider seeking the presidency three years from now.
'I'm not saying no. I'm open to all possibilities. At yun yung hinihingi ko din sa lahat na mga kasama sa oposisyon or independent bloc na maging bukas kami sa lahat ng possibilities at sa isa't isa, alang-alang sa oposisyon at alang-alang sa ating mga kababayan,' Hontiveros said.
(I'm not saying no. I'm open to all possibilities. And that's what I'm asking to those belonging to the opposition or independent bloc to be open to all possibilities and to one another for the sake of the opposition and to our countrymen.)
As the 2025 midterm polls just concluded, Hontiveros said her focus is not on the 2028 polls, but more on uniting the allies that supported Akbayan, and senators-elect Francis Pangilinan and Bam Aquino in the next nine months.
''Yung natural competition about it naturally will come somewhere up the road pa. Pero ang priority ko sa ngayon, at sinasabi ko yun sa lahat ng mga kasama at ka-alyado, lalo na itong unang siyam na buwan after the election, pag-isahin talaga. Hamigin. I-consolidate to a greater degree than we were able to do after 2022. Mag-consolidate kami,' Hontiveros said.
(My priority right now is unite, consolidate during the first nine months after election. We should consolidate to a greater degree than we were able to do after the 2022 elections.)
Now that she has Pangilinan and Aquino in the next Congress, Hontiveros said they will serve as a 'center of gravity that will serve as check and balance' and fiscalizers.
While there are newly elected allies, Hontiveros said that they may still have different decisions and stands on various issues.
'Kami lahat ng mga senador dito, we have our own decision-making process, we have our own pananaw. At nagre-respetuhan kami dyan kahit at lalo na sa loob ng tinatawag kong oposisyon…ang optimal senaryo ko ay magsama-sama kami either sa minority or sa independent bloc, sa loob at sa labas ng Senado' she added.
(We senators have our own decision-making process, we have our own perspectives. We respect each other, especially those in the opposition. The optimal scenario is we remain together either in the minority or in the independent bloc, in and out of the Senate.)
2026 General Appropriations Act
At the same press conference, Hontiveros aired concern on the statement of Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman stating that President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. will sit in the budget process for the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
'Kahit willing si Presidente, he cannot. He should not. Hindi pinapayagan niyan ng Constitution. Hindi pinapayagan niyan ng Konstitusyon. The power of the purse is wielded by Congress and Congress alone, not the executive, not any member of the executive, not even the chief executive,' she said.
(Even if the President is willing, he cannot. He should not ... that is not allowed by the Constitution.)
'Sapat na na yung executive ay magpadala ng national expenditure program sa House. From then on, it is in the legislature's hands and in our hands alone. Paglabas sa bicam na dalawang panel lang ang uupo, saka lang magkakapapel ulit ang Office of the President to either sign or line item veto,' she added.
(It's enough that the executive sends the National Expenditure Program to the House (of Representatives). From then on, it is in the legislature's hands and in our hands alone. After the bicam, it is only then that the Office of the President acts up again, either to sign or line item veto [the budget bill].)
Meanwhile, the opposition senator vowed to refile bills on SOGIESC, dissolution of marriage, and anti-teenage pregnancy in the 20th Congress should it fail to be approved before the end of the 19th Congress on June 13.
She will also seek retaining the chairmanship of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality in the next Congress. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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