Drilon: Weak political party system behind unstable gov’t leadership

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday said that a weak political party system in the Philippines is the reason behind the bickering among politicians over leadership, the latest of which was witnessed in the lower chamber.

Drilon said there is no difference between the recent change of Speaker in the House and the so-called Senate coups in the past.

"Blame it on the weakness of our political party system... The lack of party loyalty aggravates the problem of instability," the opposition senator said in a message.

"How do we strengthen it? Unfortunately you cannot legislate qualities that the public expects of politicians," he added.

The multi-party system is more fit for a parliamentary form of government than a presidential one, Drilon further said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, on the other hand, thinks the problem is not with the country's political system.

"Practically, wala namang dipirensya 'yung political system natin o 'yung democratic system natin. Maaaring ang problema nasa character naming mga politiko," Sotto said in a video message shared to reporters.

The Senate leaders gave their two cents after the House finally resolved the Speakership row between Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano and Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco.

The congressmen are both allies of President Rodrigo Duterte. Cayetano, hailing from the Nacionalista Party, was the running mate of the President in the 2016 elections; Velasco, meanwhile, was the party-mate of Duterte in PDP-Laban.

The two reached a gentleman's agreement in 2019 that they will share the term for House Speaker—Cayetano being in-charge of the first 15 months and Velasco taking over the remaining 21.

The squabble, however, started as Cayetano's term neared its end. Velasco insisted that he should have the post on October 14 but Cayetano did not flinch.

Cayetano moved to suspend the session last week even without approving the national budget on third reading. He said it would be approved on third reading when the session resumes on November 16.

Duterte stepped in by calling for a special session on October 13 to 16 so that the budget deliberations may continue.

On Tuesday, Velasco officially secured the post as the new House Speaker as the House ratified his election. As it was happening, Cayetano announced his irrevocable resignation.

After the Speakership issue has been put to rest, Malacañang said Cayetano and Velasco "agreed to work together as one majority in order to ensure the timely passage of the 2021 budget and other priority legislation of the Duterte Administration." — BM, GMA News