SENATE deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros yesterday said her party-list group Akbayan and the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) of congressman-elect Leila de Lima are consolidating allies, particularly those who supported the candidacies of senators-elect Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, so they can come up with a “progressive or reformist alternative” in the 2028 presidential elections.
She said they are assessing their performance in the May 12 midterm elections as it was evident that they have regained voter confidence after Pangilinan, Aquino, Akbayan, and ML won in the recent polls.
“But my priority right now… especially these nine months after the elections, is to consolidate to a greater degree than we were able to do after 2022. We should consolidate,” she said in Filipino at the Kapihan sa Senado media forum.
She said that the “pink” and “yellow” groups, referring to supporters of former Vice President Leni Robredo and the Liberal Party, have not faded out as they were responsible for electing Pangilinan, Aquino, and the two party-list groups.
Akbayan placed first in the party-list race. Aquino placed second in the senatorial elections and Pangilinan, fifth.
“I know they were part of our victory in the last elections. We even got more support. So, it is dynamic and growing and that gives me hope and the fighting spirit in our next fight,” she said.
Hontiveros also said she would want to align with Pangilinan and Aquino but it is up to them if they want to join either the majority or minority bloc in the Senate.
Hontiveros said she would want to remain a member of the minority, but if senators allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte, who now claim to be the “opposition,” will have more members, she said she is open to creating an independent bloc in the Senate.
The Duterte allies are incumbent senators Robin Padilla and Alan Peter Cayetano; re-elected senators Christopher Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Imee Marcos; and senator-elect Rodante Marcoleta.
Although senator-elect Camille Villar ran under the administration’s Alyansa sa Bagong Pilipinas, she is perceived to be a Duterte ally after Vice President Sara Duterte endorsed her candidacy.
Hontiveros said she and her allies’ performance in the midterm elections will be their basis to further improve their chances in the 2028 elections.
“There will certainly be a progressive or reformist alternative. So, at least there will be a third slate. I still don’t know who they are because that will be part of the selection process which I hope which can design after the first nine months of unifying our forces),” she said.
“What’s important is unification in the first nine months with those whom we have worked with during the campaign and with those whom we had historic working relationship which we had trust and confidence with. If we could do it, then it will be our solid core from which we can further expand or explore,” Hontiveros said.
