‘We have to survive,’ says Hontiveros of Senate opposition bloc

Sen. Risa Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition has “to survive” and “stay in the game” amid a “heavily contested” democracy in the country, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Thursday.

Hontiveros will be the only opposition voice in the Senate with a secured spot in the upper chamber based on the partial and unofficial count of the Commission on Elections.

“We have to survive. Hindi yan na gusto lang namin [not because we only want to], it’s a fundamental requirement of a working democracy. The opposition has to stay in the game and we intend to,” she said in an ANC interview.

 “It’s our duty, kung meron kaming mga fundamental disagreements with any administration, tungkulin namin not just for ourselves but the citizens who deserve representation kapag merong mga puna,  kapag merong pagkukulang, pagkakamali, these have to be corrected. These gaps have to be filled,” she added.

 (It’s our duty, if we have fundamental disagreements with any administration, it’s our duty not just for ourselves but the citizens who deserve representation if there is something to be criticized, if there are shortcomings, mistakes, these have to be corrected. These gaps have to be filled.)

 Hontiveros, amid a looming Marcos presidency, said the opposition has “strived to be fair” in the past years.

“We’ve always strived to be fair. Kapag ka may mga tamang programa, tamang polisiya [If there are good, correct programs and policies], we say so and we certainly try to contribute our fair share, sometimes a lion share of positive policies and programs,” she said.

“Long game kasi ito, long game yung ating pagbubuo ng ating bansa. Long game yung pagma-mature ng ating heavily contested democracy. And the opposition, we intend to stay in this long and very serious game” she added.

 (Because this is a long game, to build up our country is a long game. Having to mature our heavily contested democracy is a long game. And the opposition, we intend to stay in this long and very serious game.)

  gsg