Senator Risa Hontiveros was reelected with 15,420,807 votes, making her the only opposition candidate who secured a Senate seat in the May 2022 polls.
The votes she garnered was based on the most recent tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which covered 172 out of the 173 certificates of canvass (COCs).
In her short speech after receiving the certificate of proclamation from Comelec Commissioner Aimee Torrefranca-Neri on Wednesday, May 18, Hontiveros expressed her gratitude to all the people who supported her senatorial bid.
“Looking back at everything we went through, I cannot help but think that it is almost a miracle that I am standing before you today,” she said.
“But the truth is, I am able to mark this new journey because of the love and hardwork of everyone around me: my family, my staff and campaign team, sa aking partidong (my political party) Akbayan, my friends, allies, and, of course, all Filipinos dreaming of a better life. All of you who are watching and supporting, hindi ako mauubusan ng pasasalamat para sa inyong lahat (I will forever be thankful to all of you),” Hontiveros added.
Hontiveros ran under the senatorial slate of presidential candidate Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo.
Hontiveros is a known staunch critic of the Duterte Administration’s controversial war against illegal drugs campaign and the re-imposition of the death penalty.
Currently, Hontiveros serves in the 18th Congress as the chairperson of the Committee on Women, Children, and Family Relations.
Some of the measures she passed are the Philippine Mental Health Law, the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, the Universal Healthcare Law, the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Law, and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Law, among others.
Prior to her Senate stint, she served as a member of the House of Representatives as an Anakbayan representative from 2004 to 2010.
While in Congress, Hontiveros, who is a health women's rights advocate, worked for the passage of the Reproductive Health (RH) Law, a landmark measure that provides women and families access to reproductive health and modern family planning services.
Hontiveros was also one of the principal authors of the Cheaper Medicines Law, and one of the key sponsors of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reform (CARPER) Law.