Minority cheers as opposition bets secure seats in 20th Congress

Metro Manila, Philippines - Incumbent lawmakers in the minority celebrate as colleagues won seats in the incoming 20th Congress.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros welcomed the imminent return to the Senate of Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan who are in the top five of partial and unofficial Senate race results.

“Kayo ang mga boses na kailangang-kailangan natin sa Senado sa mga darating na araw. [You are the voice that the Senate really needs in the coming day],” she said in a statement. “ I look forward to once again working with you both for the good of the people.”

The Senate minority has only two members - Hontiveros and last-termer Koko Pimentel.

Hontiveros also praised the looming victory of Akbayan party-list with votes in the partial and unofficial tally that would give it three seats in the House of Representatives.

Lawyer Chel Diokno leads the nominees of Akbayan, backed by sitting Rep. Perci Cendaña and Lumad rights champion Dadah Kiram Ismula.

“Ang makasaysayang tagumpay ng aking minamahal na Akbayan Partylist ay bunga ng tiwala at pagkilos ng taumbayan. The Filipino people have brought Akbayan to the top of a very hard-fought party-list race,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: The historic success of my beloved Akbayan party-list is the result of the trust and action of the people. The Filipino people have brought Akbayan to the top of a very hard-fought party-list race.]

She also welcomed Mamamayang Liberal party-list as it poised to secure a House seat. Former Senator Leila de Lima is the group’s first nominee.

“Masaya ako at kasama ng Akbayan sa susunod na Kongreso ang ML… sa pagsulong sa hustisya, karapatang pantao at malinis na gobyerno,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: I am happy that ML will be with Akbayan in the next Congress... in advancing justice, human rights and a clean government,]

De Lima said “it is clear the ML party-list will have a seat in Congress.”

“This win - this hard-earned, against-the-odds win - proves that even in a system built to discourage idealism, idealism can still break through,” she said in a separate statement.

Diokno, Cedana, Ismula, and De Lima’s additions will make up for the minority’s loss of strong opposition lawmakers in the likes of outgoing ACT Teacher’s Rep. France Castro and Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas who failed to secure Senate seats.

“Magkakasama tayong babalik. Sabay-sabay tayong hahakbang patungo sa Pilipinas na matagal na nating pinapangarap,” De Lima said.

[Translation: We will come back together. Together we will step towards the Philippines that we have been dreaming of for a long time.]

Meanwhile, opposition candidates who received millions of votes in the senatorial race were a source of renewed hope for other voters for the next 2028 elections despite not making the winning circle. 

On social media, supporters of candidates such as Heidi Mendoza and Luke Espiritu who are classified as “alternative” — or for others “true opposition” — urged them not to get tired of running in the next election cycle.