MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo announced that she had handed the opposition’s leadership to Senator Risa Hontiveros.
In a speech after Robredo administered the second oath-taking ceremony of Sen. Risa, she mentioned that she sent the lawmaker a text message after the election results came out, saying, “Ikaw na iyong lider namin.” (You’re now our leader)
“Kaya please know na nasa likod mo lang kami. Nasa likod mo lang kami, tutulong kung kailan mo kami kailangan.”
OUTGOING VICE PRESIDENT LENI ROBREDO
(So please know that we are always behind you. We are always behind you and will help you if needed.)
Hontiveros is now the highest elected official from the opposition after Robredo lost the Presidential election to President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and her running mate, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, lost to Vice President-elect Sara Duterte.
Hontiveros was also the only senatorial bet from the Robredo-Pangilinan ticket to win a seat in the upper chamber, while the slate of opposition coalition 1Sambayan has likewise did not make it into the magic 12.
“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.
(We are all happy that you are the one remaining holding our flag. We are confident. We are confident that you will continue fighting for what we believe to be good and right in governance.)
“Kami ang mga sundalo mo na ngayon, Sen. Risa, Kung paano mo sinuportahan ang sambayanang Pilipino, ganoon din iyong suportang aasahan mo sa amin.”
OUTGOING VICE PRESIDENT LENI ROBREDO
(We are your soldiers now … We will support you like you supported the Filipino people.)
Hontiveros vowed to continue working with Robredo, other opposition leaders, parties, and movements to address inequality.
“Pararamihin natin ang mga Pilipinong nakikibahagi sa proseso ng demokrasya, upang maramdaman ng mas marami pa ang mga resulta nito.”
SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
(We will multiply the number of Filipinos sharing in the process of democracy so more would feel the results.)
“We will fight back harder against rumors, lies, propaganda, and fake news. Let me make this even clearer: this is a stern warning to all the dubious characters in the fake news universe: This time, we will not let your reckless disregard for truth slander our democracy — our country — ever again,” Hontiveros said.