Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday, May 13 welcomed the inclusion of former senators Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan in the top 12 of the May 2025 midterm elections.

Hontiveros is also elated with the result of the party-list race. Akbayan is leading the House party-list race; Mamamayang Liberal (ML), another opposition party-list which has former senator Leila de Lima as its lead nominee, also garnered enough votes to land it a seat in the House of Representatives.

De Lima is known to be a vocal critic of former president Rodrigo Duterte and his administration’s brutal war on drugs.

The senator said she is now looking forward to a a stronger opposition bloc in the Senate in the upcoming 20th Congress.

“Lumalakas na ang totoong oposisyon sa Senado at Kongreso (The true opposition is getting stronger in the Senate and House)!” Hontiveros said.

“Hindi ito simpleng ‘comeback.’ Pinapatunayan lamang ng halalang ito na hangad pa rin ng masang Pilipino ang pamahalaang may puso, may prinsipyo, at may tapang manindigan (This is not a simple comeback. This election only proves that the Filipino masses still desire a government with heart, principles, and the courage to stand up),” she stressed.

“Ang makasaysayang tagumpay ng aking minamahal na Akbayan Partylist ay bunga ng tiwala at pagkilos ng taumbayan (The historic victory of my beloved Akbayan Partylist is the result of the trust and action of the people). Once more, the Filipino people have brought Akbayan to the top of a very hard fought partylist race),” she further said.

At the same time, Hontiveros “wholeheartedly” thanked solid supporters of Akbayan for staying and carrying the party to every corner of the country.

“Sa mga bagong mukha na tumaya sa ating pagkilos, salamat sa pagkakataong inyong ibinigay (To the new faces who bet on our movement, thank you for the opportunity you gave),” she said.

Hontiveros also said she is happily surprised at the votes coming from the youth.

“At special shoutout sa ating kabataang botante na  nagsilbing game-changer sa eleksyong ito! (A special shoutout to our young voters who served as a game-changer in this election)!” she stressed.

Hontiveros said she is now looking forward to working with Pangilinan and Aquino whom she said would serve as strong voices in the Senate which the Upper Chamber desperately needs to have in the upcoming months.

“I look forward to once again working with you both for the good of the people,” she said.

“Kasama sina Senator Kiko at Senator Bam sa Senado, at ang Akbayan Partylist at Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist sa Kongreso, titindig tayong muli nang mas taas-noo, mas matatag, at mas handa sa hamon ng panahon. (With Senator Kiko and Senator Bam in the Senate, and the Akbayan Partylist and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist in Congress, we will rise again with a higher head, stronger, and more prepared for the challenges of the times),” she stressed.

“At sa milyon-milyong bagong kasama natin sa laban: Maligayang pagdating. Kaya natin ito (And to the millions of new members in  our fight: Welcome. We can do this)!” the lawmaker assured.