No objective basis to continue alliance with Duterte, says leftist solon

As far as ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio is concerned, leftist lawmakers at the House of Representatives have "practically" broken their alliance with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Interviewed during the launching of the Movement Against Tyranny Coalition in Quezon City on Monday, Tinio said this was due to Duterte's pronouncements on certain issues and other progressive matters.

"Practically, ganun na kasi 'yung mga binanggit nating batayan nung simula, namely 'yung peace talks, 'yung independent foreign policy, 'yung mga progressive stand on issues like 'yung paglaban sa contractualization, at iba pa, lahat 'yan bigo at si Pangulong Duterte mismo ang tumalikod dito," Tinio said.

"Kaya pormalidad na lang sa palagay namin 'yung pagkalas sa alyansa kay Pangulong Duterte," he added.

Leftist lawmakers at the House, collectively called the Makabayan bloc, are part of the House supermajority led by allies of Duterte.

The seven-member group includes Tinio and fellow ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, Bayan Muna's Carlos Zarate, Gabriela Women's Party's Emmi De Jesus and Arlene Brosas, Anakpawis' Ariel Casilao and Kabataan's Sarah Elago.

Tinio said there is no longer basis to continue the alliance with Duterte, given the President's stance on several issues that the Makabayan bloc feels strongly against.

"'Yung kongretong aksyon namin pag-uusapan pa yan, pero ang malinaw ngayon, wala na talagang objective basis para dun sa alliance," he said.

Tinio added that they have yet to decide whether they will join the Magnificent 7 or the Minority bloc in case they formally withdraw their support to the Duterte administration. —KBK, GMA News