Hontiveros files COC for reelection bid in Eleksyon 2022

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday formalized her reelection bid in the 2022 elections by filing her certificate of candidacy (COC).

Hontiveros filed her COC about 11:50 a.m. at the Harbor Garden Tent inside the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila compound in Pasay City. She will run under Akbayan Party.

Before filing her COC, Hontiveros went to Baseco Compound in Tondo, Manila, to launch her campaign platform that centers on health.

"Sana at pagbigyan niyo akong maglingkod muli bilang senador ng bayan2,"she said in a short speech after filing her COC. "Nais ko po sanang ituloy ang mga nasimulan natin noong 2016."

(I hope you will give me another chance to serve again as senator of the country. I want to continue what I have started in 2016.)

She vowed to continue the fight against corruption, push for women’s rights, support for workers especially the frontliners, and cooperation for better COVID-19 response.

Answering queries from the media, Hontiveros said she was “never overconfident” that she will win in the upcoming polls, and that she is always “hopeful” that Filipinos will support her reelection.

While waiting for announcements from other possible presidential candidates, Hontiveros said she is hoping that the opposition will be “in power” next year.

“Pero kahit pa marami na non-administration kahit marami na oposisyon ang mag-file at tumakbo, umaasa ako na darating din ang sandali kahit panahon na ng kampanya na magbuo pa rin ng united front,” she said.

(Even though there are a lot of non-administration and opposition candidates who filed their COCs, I still hope that the time will come that the united front will still be organized, even if it happens during the campaign period.)

“Bakit? Para wakasan na ang Dutertismo. Para iahon na talga sa isang propseyunal at epektibong paraan ang ating bansa sa pandemya at iahon ang ating mga kababayan sa resesyon na ito,” she added.

(Why? To end Dutertism, to help our country resolve the pandemic in a professional and effective way, and to help our countrymen overcome this recession.)

Hontiveros said she is open to working with anyone and any party to end “Dutertismo” or the reign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In a statement Friday morning, Akbayan Partylist expressed optimism that Hontiveros will secure a Senate seat in the upcoming polls.

“Five years ago, Risa Hontiveros won a historic victory. She broke the glass ceiling for women, progressives, and ordinary people in the Senate…In 2016, we made history. In 2022, we will repeat our victory,” Akbayan said.

Hontiveros was recently named as one of Liberal Party’s guest candidates. --KBK, GMA News