Risa Hontiveros. Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros’ senatorial bid got a boost Friday from two known feisty senators, who like her, have strongly fought for the passage of the Reproductive Health bill.
With Hontiveros in the Senate, Senator Pia Cayetano said the fight for the rights of women would become easier.
“Kailangan ko si Risa— dadali ang buhay, bibilis ang pagpasa ng mga batas, hindi na ako magkakamot ng ulo, hindi na hahaba ang buhok ko, may panahon akong mag exercise ng konti, maghanap ng boyfriend (I need Risa—life will be easier, the passage of laws will be faster, I won’t be scratching my head, my hair won’t grow long, I have time to exercise a bit, and find a boyfriend),” Cayetano said in jest at a joint press conference in Quezon City.
“On that basis alone isn’t it Risa Hontiveros should be in the Senate,” she said.
Turning serious, Cayetano said the Senate needs a “fighter’ like Hontiveros to promote everybody’s rights on issues not only concerning women.
Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago also threw her support behind Hontiveros and defended her from what she described as “politics of hatred” being waged by anti-RH groups.
But first, Santiago explained why she came late in the press conference: “Kaya ako na-late papunta dito dahil galing sa bahay ko, may nakita akong mama sa harap ng Ateneo, sabi ko sa driver ko, stop at bumaba ako. Sabi ko sa kanya iboboto mo ba si Risa Hontiveros? Sabi nya pag iisipan ko. E gago ka pala e (I was late because on my way here from our house, I saw a man in front of Ateneo and I told my driver to stop. I asked the man, will you vote for Risa Hontiveros? He said he will think about it. You’re crazy).”
Santiago lambasted Hontivero’s critics for allegedly engaging in a “politics of hatred.”
“Our highest spiritual authority says when he was asked: What is love? Or what is the highest commandment . First of all, Jesus said: God is love. If God is love, then why are we engaging in a politics of hatred?” Santiago asked.
Santiago clarified that the passage of the RH bill did not mean that sex will no longer be allowed.
“Those saying that are priests who never had sex that’s why they’re talking out of infinite ignorance,” she said.