Inquirer.net report warns public re “rubber stamp” Senate

CHEERS TO Inquirer.net for calling attention to the weakened opposition in the 19th Congress. The in-depth report pointed out the risks of a Senate that’s subservient to the President. The reporter interviewed professors from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman’s Department of Political Science. The three academics underscored the role of Congress in checking the executive branch.

The June 3 report by Kurt dela Peña highlighted UP Prof. Jorge Tigno’s assessment that the diminished opposition is “dangerous” to democracy because it could turn the Senate into a “rubber stamp” of the incoming President. To Assistant Prof. Sol Iglesias, such a compliant Senate will not serve the public interest.

The report said that with the adjournment of the 18th Congress, Sen. Risa Hontiveros is the only clear remaining opposition in the Senate. Hontiveros, the only senator from the slate of opposition candidate Vice President Leni Robredo re-elected last May 9, could be joined by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III in the minority bloc. Dela Peña correctly recalled that Pimentel is a former Duterte administration ally who often sided with the outgoing president until the PDP-Laban broke into two factions. 

For Prof. Maria Ela Atienza, Sen. Pimentel is likely to join the minority since his faction in PDP-Laban did not support the president-elect. According to media accounts, Hontiveros hopes that the minority bloc would be composed of at least three members. 

Through graphics, the report also showed that the opposition bloc has shrunk over the years. In 2004-2007, with Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as president, the 13th Congress’ Senate minority had nine in its ranks; the 18th saw this number drop to four. Prof. Atienza stressed that with the Senate’s composition, the so-called “supermajority” would face less scrutiny but that the minority must strive even harder to represent the basic sectors that are now even more underrepresented in the House of Representatives.  

Aside from the opposition’s being severely outnumbered, Prof. Atienza cited other challenges. Sen. Leila De Lima is facing drug charges and is still detained, following her investigation into extrajudicial killings in Davao City and the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s report on the government’s pandemic response contracts with Pharmally Pharmaceuticals failed to reach the required number of signatures for formal endorsement. Some members of the committee said they refused to sign because the report recommended charges against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Inquirer.net concluded with what Prof. Iglesias called a bigger problem than a decreased minority: a weak political party system, which renders the concept of majorities and minorities meaningless, and gives rise to the tendency of Philippine elections to be dominated by personalities and political dynasties. 

Media should continue to seek expert opinion that shines necessary light on post-election developments, especially when these concern the check and balance role of institutions like the Senate. The insight in such reports fosters vigilance and allows the public to get an early sense of what is in store in the next six years under the incoming administration.