The presidential campaign for Philippine Senator Risa Hontiveros officially kicked off over the weekend, with over 1,500 supporters launching the “Aton Ini! Risa for 6” movement.
According to The Manila Times, supporters are gathering early, citing a late start to their candidate support for the 2022 election and hoping for grassroots support to provide enough traction for the 2028 presidential elections.
Senator Hontiveros has been a vocal proponent of limits on the gambling sector and was one of the authors of the Anti-POGO Act of 2025. In the past, she has pointed the finger at executive and government officials for alleged support of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) after the official ban on POGOs, looking particularly at BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing) companies.
Hontiveros has publicly announced that she is considering a bid for the presidency, however she has said that opposition groups should unite behind the strongest candidate, irrespective of whether she herself is the top choice.
If she gathers the support required, Hontiveros could face off against Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who benefits from a strong base in Mindanao and Visayas. While Duterte currently appears to be the popular favorite, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo is also showing strong support, while Senator Raffy Tulfo has polled ahead of Hontiveros.
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