Hontiveros: Pink, vellow must consolidate for 2028

"Yellow" and "Pink" forces should consolidate their ranks and strengthen the opposition by building on their gains from the surprisingly good finish of two of their candidates and party-list groups in the May 12 elections, according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

In an interview with The STAR's "Truth on the Line" on Friday, Hontiveros said she has her eyes set on strengthening the opposition both in and outside of Congress, especially with the sterling performance of some of its candidates in the last polls.

She was referring to the surprise top five finish of returning senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan, as well as Leila de Lima's election as Mamamayang Liberal party-list representative and Hontiveros' party Akbayan leading in the party-list race with three seats, one reserved for human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.

"In unity, there is strength. That is why I proposed to our allies that in the nine months after the elections, we prioritize uniting our forces, evaluate our performance in the midterms and find out the lessons for future elections moving forward," Hontiveros said.

She said their forces should prepare for the long battle ahead for the 2028 national elections.

"We should continue to organize, educate and mobilize - separately, parallel or together - leading up to what I hope to be the formation of a strong slate to fight and win in 2028," she said.

Hontiveros, a former Akbayan party-list representative, is the highest elected official of the opposition aligned with the late president Benigno Aquino III's Liberal Party.

Earlier, when asked if she would be willing to lead the opposition slate as presidential candidate in 2028, she said it's a decision that can only be made after consultation.

Former vice president Leni Robredo, who is now Naga City mayor, used to be the highest elected official in the opposition. But she lost her presidential bid in 2022. She has relaunched her flagship program "Angat Buhay" as a nongovernment organization for poverty alleviation.