Senate to stay independent – Pimentel
The Senate will remain independent even with the possibility that allies of President Duterte would secure the majority of the seats in the Upper Chamber after the May 13 midterm elections, re-electionist Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Thursday.
Pimentel, president of the ruling Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), gave the assurance amid concerns that the Senate will be a rubber stamp of the Duterte administration should more allies – and less opposition members – win the 2019 senatorial race.
“Yes, [the Senate will still be independent] after this election, [even with] the [new] composition. Ganoon naman po kami (We have been like that ever since),” Pimentel said when asked during the Manila Bulletin’s Hot Seat interview Thursday.
He also stressed that President has since not meddled with the work of the legislative branch, particularly the Senate.
“In the first place, under the Duterte administration, he (President Duterte) does not interfere with our work,” the former Senate chief said.
“So even if we don't want to be independent, we are actually independent because he does not interfere,” he pointed out.
Duterte has also recognized the people's right to express dissent against his administration, Pimentel added. He recalled the Chief Executive even endorsing senatorial candidates who criticize some of his policies.
“Si President Duterte sa aming rallies...When he sells his chosen candidates to the people, for example, si [Sens.] JV (Ejercto) and Sonny Angara. Sabi niya, ‘What I appreciate about these two gentlemen is that they criticize me,’ not on a personal basis but on policies, on issues,” Pimentel said.
“So don't fear about the loss of the independence of the Senate because, number one, it will not happen,” he reiterated.
He also noted that the Senate has consistently received high public satisfaction ratings in surveys.
“I don't think the perception of the Senate as an independent institution has ever changed. It has always been an independent Senate sa mata ng bayan (in the view of the people),” he said.
On Wednesday, Pimentel lauded that majority of administration bets were included in the latest Pulse Asia survey naming 14 senatorial candidates who have a statistical chance of winning in the midterm polls.
He said this “reflects the public’s support for the Duterte Administration and shows that voters appreciate what the current government has done to improve their lives” and that people want "continuity" in the government's current programs.
The PDP-Laban has five candidates
for this year's elections. They are Maguindanao Rep. Zajid “Dong” Mangudadatu, former Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, Pimentel, and former Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino. They are collectively known as the “MaBaGo ’Ko ’To” slate.
Aside from the ruling party's bets, Duterte had also endorsed re-electionist Senators Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, and JV Ejercito, as well as Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, and singer Freddie Aguilar.
Duterte, however, recently maintained that Filipino voters must be allowed to choose freely in the upcoming polls.
“’Pag walang right to dissent, hindi ka maka-dissent [If there is no right to dissent, you cannot dissent], there is no democracy. That’s the only one there. The right to dissent. Remove that and you do not have a democracy,” Duterte had said in his speech at the PDP-Laban campaign rally in Bacolod City last week.