Risa Hontiveros for president? Groups rally support for potential run

MANILA, Philippines – Groups, advocates formally announced Friday, June 5, their support for the potential presidential bid of Senator Risa Hontiveros in the 2028 elections.

Akbayan and Magdalo organized the launch for their nationwide “Risa Na” campaign. Sectoral representatives took the stage at Bahay ng Alumni in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

“Hindi tayo sumusuntok sa buwan,” former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said in a video message played before the crowded venue. (We are not shooting for the moon.)

Trillanes said Magdalo conducted its own surveys in January and April and recorded Hontiveros’ upward trajectory.

He added, “Tayo ay tumutulak ng hindi lang isang pinuno na maayos at magagaling na katangina, kundi nagtutulak tayo ng isang pinuno na winnable para sa buong bansa.”

(We are not only pushing for a leader that is good and has great qualities, but we are pushing for a leader that’s winnable for the whole country.)

Latest Pulse Asia survey covering the first quarter of 2026 showed Vice President Sara Duterte as the frontrunner in the 2028 elections. Hontiveros came fifth after Duterte, former Vice President Leni Robredo, and senators Raffy Tulfo and Bam Aquino.

Hontiveros previously said she is seriously considering running for president, as well as preparing to support the candidate the opposition chooses to put forward.

Staunch advocate

The launch highlighted Hontiveros’ history of advocacy in the streets and in parliament.

Some of the sectoral representatives who spoke on stage to express their support are labor leaders, a solo parent, and a community organizer.

“Si Senator Risa po [has] always been consistent sa pagsama sa pakikibaka ng mga manggagawa,” said Jessica de Ocampo of the Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation labor union. (Senator Risa has always been consistent in joining the workers’ struggle.)

“Bihirang-bihira na po ang mga kagaya niya na nakaranas ng pakikipaglaban sa kalsada kumpara po sa ibang halal na nagsimula sa mga pelikula, kaya mas magaling lang sa pagdadrama,” De Ocampo said.

(It is very rare for an official like her to have experience taking to the streets compared with other elected officials who started in the movies – this is why they are better at playing out dramas.)

Hontiveros served as Akbayan representative from 2004 to 2010. On her bionote posted on the Senate website, she is described as the Philippines’ “first socialist woman senator.” – Rappler.com