Hontiveros takes oath as senator in Cebu City

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel on Sunday took her oath of office at the Cebu Provincial Capital.

Hontiveros-Baraquel said she chose to take her oath in Cebu City to express her gratitude to her Cebuano supporters, whom she said stood by her since her first senatorial bid in 2010. She always landed in the Top 12 in the vote-rich province of Cebu.

“Daghang salamat, mga kauban, for staying faithful to me until victory,” Hontiveros-Baraquel said.

The neophyte senator was sworn in by Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide II. She personally wrote her oath and added specific clauses to the standard oath of office.

In her oath, Hontiveros-Baraquel stresses that she rejects violence and oppression and vowed to “listen to the people from whom her mandate emanates.” She said she is committed to serve “the marginalized sectors, uphold women’s dignity, reject violence and oppression, in support of her collective aspirations for a just and equal society.”

“This oath of office is one of the most important promises I will make in my life. Today, Jose Rizal's birthday, in the historic province of Cebu, I dedicate my office to the service of the marginalized and the basic sectors, bear true faith to the Constitution as a member of a strong and independent Senate, and commit to stand on the side of human rights, due process and participatory democracy,” Hontiveros-Baraquel said on her Facebook account.

Below is a copy of her personally written oath of office:

Copy from Risa Hontiveros staff/Released