Risa Hontiveros is a Filipino politician and journalist who was the representative of Akbayan in the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 2004 to 2010. She is one of the lead figures in the country's democratic socialism movement and the LGBT rights movement and a key opposition figure against the country's controversial drug war. She was also a television journalist and news anchor who worked for two television networks in the country: IBC (Headline Trese) and GMA Network (GMA Network News).
Hontiveros ran for Senator and won in the 2016 election under the Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid of President Benigno Aquino III. Landing 9th place, she was proclaimed a Senator-elect by the Philippine Commission on Elections, sitting en banc as National Board of Canvassers, on May 19, 2016. Her platform is activism for equality and justice for all. Her focus legislation covers health, women's rights, LGBT rights, children's rights, environment, fishermen's rights, farmers' rights, government reforms, positive activism, and students' rights. Most recently, she is the key proponent for the Safe Streets and Public Spaces Act which protects Filipinos (especially women) from catcalling, groping, persistent requests, and other forms of street harassment.
Currently, despite being in the opposition at the Senate, she still stands firm with her principles, truly making her a force to be reckoned with.
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