Robredo, De Guzman want law banning ‘balimbing’ politics; Isko bats for 2-party system

Vice President Leni Robredo and labor leader Leody De Guzman on Sunday night agreed that there should be a law against political turncoatism—the practice of moving from one political party to another when it suits a politician—in order to strengthen the country's political system.

At the second PiliPinas presidential debate spearheaded by the Commission on elections, Robredo said that "balimbing" politicians who frequently switch parties weaken the political party system. 

"If we look at it, parating political convenience ang sinusunod [their actions are due to political convenience]," she said.

"Because if we allow turncoatism, hindi natin maaasahan na lalakas ang political parties kasi puede sila i-dispose any time. Dapat magpasa ng batas na ipagbawal ito para iyong mga pulitiko sumali sa partido base sa prinsipyo at pinaglalaban ng partido."

(If we allow turncoatism, we will not be able expect political parties to strengthen because they can be discarded any time. There should be a law against turncoatism so that politicians will join parties based on principles that the party is fighting for.)

Robredo added that the Philippines must "revisit" whether the multi-party system is still working. 

"Maybe we need to have a runoff election just like in other countries, kasi iyong nananalong presidente, minority president kasi napakaraming kandidato [because whoever wins is a minority president because of the number of candidates running]. Panahon na ba para sa two-party system? Kailangan pagdebatehan na ito para hindi nauulit ulit [Is it time for a two-party system? This must be discussed so it won't have to keep getting brought up again and again]."

Speaking after Robredo, De Guzman agreed that such a law is necessary to prevent "political butterflies."

"Dapat talaga magkaroon ng klarong batas tungkol doon sa mga political butterfly dito sa Pilipinas nang sa ganoon ay magkaroon ng matibay na tuntungan at pundasyon ang ating political system sa bansa," De Guzman said.

(There really does need to be a clear law against the political butterflies here in the Philippines, so that our political system will have a strong foundation.)

He pointed out that many politicians switch parties to protect their own interests as well as the interests of capitalists, elitists, and big businesses.

"Hindi nabubuo at napapalakas 'yung partido para sa mga marginalized at masang Pilipino, tingin ko doon dapat magkaroon ng guhitan sa pagitan ng mga partido. Interes ba ng kapital o interes ng manggagawa?" De Guzman said.

(A party for the marginalized Filipino masses can't get formed and strengthened. I think that's where lines should be drawn. Are their actions in the interests of capital or the interests of the workers?)

Shaping society

For his part, former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales said that it must start with having an understanding of the importance of political parties and their potential in shaping society.

"Ang trabaho pong napakalaki ng isang partido ay yung pagbubuo ng isang sentimyento ng bansa. Anong klaseng sentimyento at tungkol saan 'yan? Sentimyento kung anong klase ng lipunan ang gusto gawin ng isang political party. Anong lipunan ang gusto natin? Anong sistema ng ekonomiya ang nararapat para magkapantay-pantay ang buhay, for example, ng mga mahihirap at mayayaman,"Gonzales said.

(A party is not just a gathering of politicians. The job of a political party is to form the sentiments of the nation. The sentiment of what kind of society do they want to usher in. What system of economy is right to achieve equality among the poor and the rich.)

"…Kaya kung wala pong pagkakaintindi, walang ideolohiya, walang pilosopiya ng lipunan ang mga political parties, kahit ipagbawal natin ang paglipat-lipat hindi naman po importante kaya kailangan magsimula nating ipaunawa sa ating mga kababayan kung ano ang ibig sabihin magkaroon ng isang political party para kapag election natin, ang pinipili modelo ng lipunan hindi ng kung sino-sino lang," he added.

(If there is no such understanding, no ideology, no philosophy among the political parties, even if we ban turncoatism it won't matter. We have to start with imparting to Filipinos what it means to have a political party so that when it's election time what they will choose is the model of society [espoused by the party] and not just anyone.)

'Not just one family'

Aksyon Demokratiko bet and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno, who has been criticized for changing political parties over the years, said he believes it is time for a two-party system in government.

Moreno again pushed for two senators per region in the country as well as for a vice-presidential bet to win if the presidential candidate is elected.

“Kasi gusto ko makakita ng mga senador na Moro, Igorot, Aetas, or IPs sa ating bansa. Para naman hindi isang pamilya lang ang namumuno sa Senado,” he said.

(I want to see senators who are Moro, Igorot, Aetas or IPs in our country. So that it's not just one family ruling the Senate.)

The Manila mayor has previously denied that he is a traditional politician. Moreno had been with the Nacionalista Party, United Nationalist Alliance, and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino.

He is now the president of Aksyon Demokratiko. — with Llanesca T. Panti, Joahna Lei Casilao, Anna Felicia Bajo, and Joviland Rita/BM, GMA News