Image from Risa Hontiveros’ Facebook page.
Vice President Leni Robredo administered the oath-taking of Sen. Risa Hontiveros as a senator of the 19th Congress.
“Ikaw na iyong lider namin,” Robredo said in her speech after administering Hontiveros’s oath of office. “Kaya please know na nasa likod mo lang kami. Nasa likod mo lang kami, tutulong kung kailan mo kami kailangan.”
Robredo served as de facto opposition leader as the highest elected official under the Duterte administration. Her key policies involved the opposition of the brutality in the flagship campaign against illegal drugs.
Since Robredo lost to President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Hontiveros is now the highest elected official from the opposition.
“Lahat kami masaya na ikaw iyong natitirang humahawak ng ating bandila. Kampante kami. Kampante kami na patuloy mong ipapakipaglaban iyong lahat ng pinaniniwalaan natin kung ano iyong mabuti at tama sa pamamahala,” Robredo said.
The opposition slate lost in the May polls. Only Hontiveros who was part of Robredo’s senatorial bet earned a seat in the upper chamber.
— Ronald Espartinez