Pangilinan sees two-coalition system stopping political butterflies

Senator and vice presidential aspirant Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Thursday said political parties should be regulated to establish a two-coalition system to prevent turncoatism among politicians.

"Hindi ito maganda [na maraming palipat-lipat]. Kailangan palakasin ang sistema ng partido, hindi iyong parang nagpapalit ng damit. We really need political party reform, meaning anti-turncoatism measure. Kung lilipat ka ng partido, dapat may matibay na dahilan," Pangilinan told Super Radyo dzBB's Ikaw na Ba? The Vice Presidential Interviews.

(People should not be switching parties on a whim. We need to strengthen political parties and institute reforms, such as anti-turncoatism measure. If you are going to switch allegiance, you should have a valid reason.)

"The multi-party system is in our Constitution. Puwede iyong two-coalition system, para iyong partido alam kung hanay ba sila rito sa grupo na ito o sa kanila. Puwede iyong coalition [building] kasi ginagawa naman iyan ng mga partido," he added.

(We can have a two-coalition system instead of two-party-system, so that lines are clearly drawn where parties stand based on their principles. This is doable since parties do coalition building as it is.)

Pangilinan then reiterated that politicians switching parties should justify that move before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which would approve or disprove the transfer.

"They should explain their decision to transfer. Tama na ang palipat-lipat," he said.

(We have had enough of party-hopping.)

"Dapat may isang salita ang mga pulitiko," he added.  (Politicians should stand by their words.) — RSJ, GMA News