Lagay ng oposisyon sa administrasyong Marcos, kasama si Sen. Risa Hontiveros | #ThePressRoom

Sen. Risa Hontiveros sparked the curiosity of many netizens for not clapping when President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s name was announced to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 26.

In an interview with PressOnePH, the opposition senator clarified that she respected the office, which was why she stood up from her seat when the president entered and exited the session hall.

“Bitter, hindi ‘yun isang damdamin na nararamdaman ko […] kaya nga tumayo ako sa kanilang pagpasok at paglabas bilang respeto sa opisina na kanilang inuupuan,” Hontiveros said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. outlined ambitious initiatives in his first SONA, but Hontiveros said she did not find anything worth clapping for.

“May sinasabi sila na gusto ko sa kanilang SONA at mayroon rin akong mga ayaw, pero overall hindi kapalakpak-palakpak ‘yung SONA nila,” she said.

Sen. Hontiveros said she was ready to serve six years despite being the only female opposition senator.

“Malungkot pero naghahanda sa susunod na anim na taon kasama ‘yung mga susunod na electoral battles lalo as an opposition,” she said. Alexandra Mangasar