85 Facts About Risa Hontiveros

Risa Hontiveros previously served in the Congress' lower house as a party-list representative for Akbayan from 2004 to 2010.

Risa Hontiveros is the de facto leader of the opposition to the administration of President Bongbong Marcos, following the end of Leni Robredo's term as vice president.

Since 2024, Risa Hontiveros has co-hosted the radio program Oras at Bayan on Veritas 846.

Ana Theresia Navarro Risa Hontiveros was born on February 24,1966, in Manila, to a Panay Visayan lawyer and a Caviteno-Mindoreno Tagalog executive secretary.

Risa Hontiveros attended St Scholastica's College, where she joined the glee club and participated in musical theater, including Repertory Philippines' The Sound of Music.

In college at the Ateneo de Manila University, Risa Hontiveros became active in the student council, advocating for peace and justice for marginalized communities.

Risa Hontiveros worked for networks IBC and GMA Network, co-anchoring programs like Firing Line and Headline Trese.

Risa Hontiveros served as Secretary-General of the Coalition for Peace, advocating for peace zones and leading discussions on socio-economic reforms in peace talks with the National Democratic Front.

Risa Hontiveros first entered politics as the third nominee of the Akbayan party-list in the 2004 national elections.

Risa Hontiveros was one of the prominent opposition figures during the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration, especially throughout the height of the Hello Garci controversy.

Risa Hontiveros was later released after public outrage and criticisms against the Arroyo administration.

In 2008, Risa Hontiveros exposed that under the Arroyo government's 18 "agribusiness" deals with China in 2007, at least one million hectares of Philippine forest land territories would be leased to China for 50 years, an unprecedented violation of the Constitution and the country's national integrity.

Risa Hontiveros criticized President Arroyo's Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking agreement, wherein 148,886 square kilometers of Philippine maritime territory would be interfered and exploited by China.

In June 2009, Risa Hontiveros marched with the LGBTQ community to denounce the Commission on Election's decision to not accredit Ladlad, the world's first LGBT partylist.

Risa Hontiveros called for justice for the victims, calling the massacre 'an indictment of Arroyo's coddling of impunity for her allies'.

Risa Hontiveros criticized the prime suspect, former governor Andal Ampatuan Jr.

Five suspects were convicted ten years later, with Risa Hontiveros stating that although the masterminds were jailed, the quest for justice continues as several suspects remain at large and attacks on journalists continue to occur.

Risa Hontiveros began the first ever national House debates on the Reproductive Health Law which was primarily authored by her ally Edcel Lagman in the House of Representatives.

In 2012, Risa Hontiveros called for the abolition of the pork barrel system, which was not necessarily corrupt if used appropriately but have been exploited by corrupt politicians.

Risa Hontiveros has called on the government to fully implement the law amidst opposition from ultra-conservative factions.

In June 2014, Risa Hontiveros again marched with the Filipino LGBT+ community in Quezon City to renew the push for the passage of the anti-discrimination bill, which she has backed in numerous occasions in the previous congresses.

In November 2014, Risa Hontiveros was inducted as a trustee of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation board, where she served until October 2015.

Risa Hontiveros was never mentioned in the Commission on Audit ruling mandating perpetrators to return unauthorized bonuses.

On October 14,2015, Risa Hontiveros formally declared her candidacy for senator in the 2016 national elections after public surveys indicated she had a strong chance of winning.

Risa Hontiveros ran under the administration ticket, Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid.

Risa Hontiveros won a Senate seat in the 2016 election, placing ninth.

Risa Hontiveros was proclaimed on May 19,2016, by the Commission on Elections and took her oath at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

Risa Hontiveros strengthened the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law in 2017, increasing penalties for hospitals demanding deposits before administering emergency care.

Risa Hontiveros championed the SOGIE Equality Bill, holding the first Senate hearing on anti-discrimination legislation for the LGBTQ community in August 2016.

Risa Hontiveros consistently advocated for gender equality, anti-violence measures, and social protection laws.

Risa Hontiveros filed legislation addressing gender-based violence, harassment, and support for marginalized sectors such as farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous peoples, and informal settlers.

Risa Hontiveros stood firm on national sovereignty issues, urging President Rodrigo Duterte to assert the Philippines' rights in the South China Sea following the favorable South China Sea Arbitration ruling.

Risa Hontiveros opposed the re-imposition of the death penalty and denounced the 2017 arrest of Senator Leila de Lima, calling it political persecution.

Risa Hontiveros initiated Senate investigations into the police personnel involved in Delos Santos' killing and provided legal custody for witnesses with proper consent, shielding them from potential police retaliation.

In September 2017, during Senate inquiries, Risa Hontiveros exposed then-Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II for conspiring to fabricate charges against her.

Risa Hontiveros joined other senators in negotiating to restore the budget, which was reinstated after widespread public outcry and Senate appeals.

In 2018, Risa Hontiveros criticized the Duterte administration's foreign policy, calling it a "complete disaster" and a threat to Philippine sovereignty.

Risa Hontiveros cited incidents such as President Duterte's remark suggesting the Philippines could become a "province of China", unauthorized landings of Chinese military aircraft in Davao, the harassment of Filipino fishermen by the Chinese Coast Guard, and the administration's refusal to enforce the South China Sea Arbitration ruling.

Risa Hontiveros's stance drew attacks from pro-Duterte bloggers and bots spreading fake news, prompting fact-checkers and news networks to denounce these tactics.

Risa Hontiveros co-authored the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which formally established the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to promote peace in Mindanao.

Risa Hontiveros criticized Duterte as the "real destabilizer" after he accused progressive groups and opposition figures of plotting to oust him, claims that the Armed Forces of the Philippines and police later dismissed.

That same month, Risa Hontiveros exposed a "tara" system within the National Food Authority under its head, military general Jason Aquino.

Risa Hontiveros championed legislative efforts to protect public spaces, with the Senate approving her proposed Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017, which criminalized street harassment.

Risa Hontiveros continued advocating for marginalized groups, receiving the Equality Champion Award in November 2018 for her work on the SOGIE Equality Bill and fight against discrimination.

Risa Hontiveros filed a bill to legalize divorce in the Philippines, which garnered public support according to a Social Weather Stations survey.

Risa Hontiveros has been a staunch advocate for social justice and progressive legislation.

Risa Hontiveros opposed lowering the minimum age of criminal responsibility and, in 2019, received the Silver Rose Award from Solidar at the European Parliament for her work in promoting social justice and solidarity.

Risa Hontiveros sponsored the Expanded Maternity Leave Law, which increased benefits for working parents, and co-authored the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Law, institutionalizing cash transfers to alleviate poverty.

Risa Hontiveros was cleared of all charges by the Department of Justice in February 2020.

Risa Hontiveros has been a consistent supporter of the SOGIE Equality Bill and participated in the 2019 pride parade, which had over 70,000 attendees.

In February 2020, Risa Hontiveros initiated a Senate investigation that exposed the "pastillas scam", a scheme within the Bureau of Immigration allowing Chinese nationals to enter the Philippines illegally in exchange for bribes.

Risa Hontiveros pushed for investigations into illegal activities in Pampanga's Clark Freeport Zone, including Chinese-linked prostitution, and called for a probe into the murder of Anakpawis chairman Randall Echanis.

Risa Hontiveros urged the Department of Health to reinstate the suspended special risk allowance for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and advocated for legislation such as the "Magna Carta for Seafarers" and the establishment of medical schools in state universities.

Risa Hontiveros consistently opposed China's territorial claims in the South China Sea, urging the government to act against Chinese aggression and sever ties with Chinese firms involved in military activities on Philippine territories.

Risa Hontiveros criticized President Duterte's absolute pardon of US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton, convicted of killing trans Filipina Jennifer Laude, calling it an insult to the Filipino people and the LGBTQ+ community.

In 2021, Risa Hontiveros sought a Senate investigation onto the trafficking of Filipino women in the Middle East and launched the Healthy Pinas Mobile Clinic network, which brought free medical services to underserved communities nationwide.

Risa Hontiveros was named as a guest candidate of the Labor and Ecology Advocates for Democracy senatorial slate of Leody de Guzman, another presidential candidate.

Risa Hontiveros was successfully reelected for a second term, ranking 11th out of the 12 winning candidates with more than 15 million votes.

Risa Hontiveros was projected to be the only opposition senator in the 19th Congress.

Robredo magnified that the torch of the opposition leadership is in the hands of Risa Hontiveros, who is the highest-elected opposition figure.

In January 2023, Risa Hontiveros revealed that Filipinos were being trafficked to Cambodia for crypto scams by a Chinese mafia group aided by corrupt officials from the immigration bureau.

In May 2023, Risa Hontiveros visited Taipei, Taiwan, to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu amid China's perceived aggression in the region.

Risa Hontiveros became the first sitting Philippine government official to visit the country, with which the Philippines does not maintain official diplomatic relations due to its adherence to the One China policy, since Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas in 2011.

Risa Hontiveros visited Overseas Filipinos in Taiwan whom she stated were potentially affected by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian's anti-Taiwan independence statements in the Philippines.

Risa Hontiveros opposed the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Fund, the proposed sovereign wealth fund for the Philippines.

Risa Hontiveros explained that, while she believed that the country needed a new form of public financing, proposing a sovereign wealth fund was premature and more suitable in the medium term once the Philippine economy has commodity-based surpluses or surpluses from external trade from state-owned enterprises.

In July 2023, Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution urging the government to declare July 12 as West Philippine Sea Victory Day, in commemoration of the Philippine victory in the South China Sea Arbitration case.

In September 2023, during a budget hearing, Risa Hontiveros grilled the 500 million confidential fund sought by Vice President Sara Duterte for her office operations.

Risa Hontiveros has criticized the vice president's spending spree which utilized millions of pesos in confidential funds.

In March 2024, Risa Hontiveros led a Senate investigation on Apollo Quiboloy, leader of religious cult Kingdom of Jesus Christ and a close ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on President Marcos to formally ban POGOs in numerous occasions, a call which was later heeded.

Risa Hontiveros filed a measure in the Senate regarding the matter in 2023, citing the recent 2023 ruling from the United Nations-CEDAW which favored the Filipino victims.

In November 2024, the Philippine Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, authored by Risa Hontiveros, were passed into law.

Risa Hontiveros sponsored for the passage of the Magna Carta of Children.

In January 2025, Risa Hontiveros called on electric corporation Meralco to refund P100 billion in overcharges before franchise renewal.

Risa Hontiveros denounced the disinformation campaign targeting the proposed Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act, which seeks to address and reduce the rising teenage pregnancies in the country.

Risa Hontiveros sought to enhance the Anti-Espionage Law, after a Chinese spy was caught by the government.

Risa Hontiveros voted against the bill which provided Filipino citizenship to Chinese national Li Duan Wang, an incorporator of the biggest POGO provider.

Risa Hontiveros called on president Marcos to veto it, where the president later relented and vetoed the bill.

Risa Hontiveros exposed that at least 3 "deported" POGO Chinese bosses known for illegal activities did not arrive in China, raising possible collusions between immigration officials.

Risa Hontiveros sought the help of national agencies to bring back Filipinos who were trafficked by Chinese syndicates in Myanmar.

Risa Hontiveros has crafted numerous legislation that have benefited the Philippines.

Francisco died in 2005 of a heart attack caused by severe asthma, leaving Risa Hontiveros to raise their children as a single parent.

Risa Hontiveros, a licensed scuba diver and former teacher at the Ateneo, is a passionate animal welfare advocate.

Risa Hontiveros has adopted multiple stray dogs and cats, including an aspin from the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, the organization founded by her aunt, Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco.