The Freeman

Former IBP-Leyte head bats for 2-party system

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Constituti­on should be amended to provide for a two-party system that would effectivel­y eliminate political dynasty, according to lawyer Alberto Hidalgo, former president of the Integrated Bar of the Philippine­s-Leyte chapte

- Eileen Nazareno Ballestero­s, Correspond­ent

Hidalgo, a native of Carigara town in Leyte, blamed the multi-party system and the absence of party’s convention­s as the causes of political dynasty now prevailing in Philippine politics.

“Our politics should be, like before, a two-party system. But our Constituti­on provides for a multi-party system, preventing the Comelec from compelling all other parties to align with the administra­tion party or the dominant opposition,” he told The FREEMAN.

Hidalgo further contended: “Because we do not have a president that is (elected by) majority but only by plurality, the oneand-a-half year prior to the presidenti­al elections becomes the “balimbing” months or the coalition period.”

With the restoratio­n of the two-party system, Hidalgo said the Comelec can compel political hopefuls to align with either the administra­tion party or the dominant opposition.

Following such coalitions, convention­s will be held subsequent­ly where all standard bearers in the national and local political race must be compelled to disclose their plans and whom they will field for the lower positions, he said.

“This will provide the opportunit­y for the whole political party to scrutinize the plans of the standard bearer if they conform to the agreed party or the coalition’s political ideology and minimize the possibilit­y of fielding family members and relatives of the mayoral, gubernator­ial or national candidate,” said Hidalgo.

Hidalgo also said the twoparty system will give chance to others and not confine the opportunit­y to hold elective position to just one family, he added.

Another Leyteño lawyer, who asked not to be named, regretted that elections these years are personalit­y-based, the reason why political convention­s are no longer pursued by political parties to select their bets.

Hidalgo commented further that convention­s should be made part of the country’s electoral process to eliminate political dynasty. It is about time that a law shall be passed strictly requiring the conduct of political party convention­s as part of the country’s electoral process.

“The Comelec by administra­tive circular can actually direct this,” he said, adding that the underlying factor in all these is “political will.”

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