Hontiveros: 2028 polls, etc tackled in ‘Tropang Angat’ dinner

Although there was no specific agenda in mind, Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the 2028 elections were among the topics discussed in a recent gathering of the members of the 2022 senatorial slate of former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. 

In a Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros clarified that the gathering was not a meeting, but a dinner to celebrate the birthday of former senatorial candidate Alex Lacson. 

“Hindi po ‘yun meeting kaya wala pong agenda. ‘Yun po ay regular na dinner namin ng dating mga senatorial candidates noong 2022 tuwing may birthday,” she said. 

(It’s not a meeting so there was no agenda. It’s a regular dinner with the former senatorial candidates in 2022 every time there’s a birthday.) 

“So of course doon pwede naming pag-kwentuhan kahit ano. Pero walang agenda kasi hindi po meeting,” she added.

(So of course, we talked about anything. But there was no agenda because it was not a meeting.) 

Asked if the 2028 elections were discussed, Hontiveros answered in the affirmative.

“Of course, kasama na po ‘yun sa mga personal at work updates ng bawat isa. As I said, free-flowing lagi ang conversations namin kaya naglu-look forward ako sa mga dinners namin na ‘yun several times a year,” she explained.

(Of course, that was included in everyone’s personal and work updates. As I said, our conversations are always free-flowing, so I look forward to our dinners several times a year.) 

She said the group talked about current events, including national issues that the country is facing.

“Of course, lagi po. Kasi whether nasa gobyerno kami tulad namin ni Rep. Chel, Rep. Leila o wala na, o wala sa gobyerno tulad ng ibang mga kaibigan at kasama namin, lahat laging concerned sa ganyang mga issues,” Hontiveros said. 

(Of course, we always do. Because whether we are incumbent officials like Rep. Chel, Rep. Leila and I, or are no longer in the government like some of our other friends and colleagues, everyone is always concerned with such issues.) 

Among those present in the gathering were Hontiveros, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila De Lima, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Chel Diokno, former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, former House deputy speaker Erin Tañada, and lawyers Sonny Matula, Alex Lacson, Fhilip Sawali, and Dino de Leon. — JMA, GMA Integrated News