Does this picture of four ex-presidents and the current president drive something into your mind? It reminds me of the problem of the presidential system that six years is too short for a good leader and too long for a stupid leader. Not to mention, at least two out of five people in this picture could have been voted out by a vote of no confidence.
A vote of no confidence is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as:
This is where the parliamentary system would actually have better standing than the presidential in removing defective leaders. Let's just assume that both Jose Marcel Ejercito and Noynoy Aquino had passed through as former prime ministers.
Let's take a look at former president Erap's situation. It's the first impeachment proceeding that happened in the Philippines. It also reminded me of the time when William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was impeached for his lewd scandals. The problem of the impeachment process is that it's very tedious. True, there is such a thing as due process but sometimes there's such a thing as tediously painful due process. It had to go from Congress to Senate which wouldn't be so in the parliamentary.
Let's take a look at former president Erap's situation. It's the first impeachment proceeding that happened in the Philippines. It also reminded me of the time when William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was impeached for his lewd scandals. The problem of the impeachment process is that it's very tedious. True, there is such a thing as due process but sometimes there's such a thing as tediously painful due process. It had to go from Congress to Senate which wouldn't be so in the parliamentary.
Let's think of the environment where we have former Prime Minister Ejercito. The jueteng scandal was more than enough to trigger for a vote of no confidence. Jueteng as we know it should not even be legalized. Whether Prime Minister Ejercito was gambling from his own savings or from the national treasury -- it will still put his credibility into question. A vote of no confidence will have the whole Philippine parliament vote him out with all the evidence placed against him. It's less time consuming and less prone to biases because both the majority and opposition get to vote against said leader.
Another situation where a vote of no confidence would have avoided the frying pan to the fire scenario is Noynoy. I couldn't forget a number of times that I wish that we were under a parliamentary system because of events such as the SAF-44 incident, his indifference during the Manila Hostage Crisis, the DAP/PDAF scam and the failed promise to complete the expressway from Baclaran to Bacoor -- all those would have been grounds to call for a vote of no confidence against his rule would have the Philippines been a parliamentary.
The problem of impeaching Noynoy was that getting him out of office would mean the remaining years (until the next election) is that Jejomar Binay would automatically be the next president. It would create another hurdle in the system should an impeachment complaint be raised against him. But that wouldn't be the case of a parliamentary because he would be subjected to a vote of no confidence.
Let's just think of the situation where members of the parliament will lose confidence. Maybe, we can have Senator Richard Gordon or Senator Alan Cayetano to raise, "I will declare a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III for the grounds of irresponsible handling of funds and his failure to keep his promise of the expressway." This would mean that Deputy Prime Minister Binay would have to contend with other possible candidates to be the next Prime Minister. Deputy Minister Binay may have to run against nominees such as Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Senator Cayetano, Senator Lacson, and Senator Gordon to become the next prime minister.
Who knows... maybe we could have been under a Prime Minister Santiago leadership before!
Not to mention, we could talk about how I wrote about how Leni Loud Robredo would be at a serious disadvantage under a parliamentary system. The issue with the presidential system is that the vice president is just a spare tire. But there would be a difference if Leni Loud were in the position as the deputy prime minister instead of the vice president.
How would Deputy Prime Minister Leni Loud fare in the parliamentary system? Chances are she would have been called for a vote of no confidence. Let's say that Prime Minister Duterte went to Marawi leaving her and Senator Cayetano in charge. Let's say that instead of doing her job as a deputy prime minister -- all she's doing is go out and have a good time. That would be a good opportunity to call for her to account for her undeclared travel expenses here and there. Not to mention, going to party while Prime Minister Duterte is busy in Marawi.
Deputy Prime Minister Leni Loud can be called out by a vote of no confidence. Let's say that Senator Cayetano will say, "I admit Deputy Prime Minister Leni Loud Robredo has beaten me fair and square during the last parliamentary election. However, she has shown her extreme absenteeism and non-competence in both participating and moderating in the debates to reach a feasible solution. She even dared to suggest that we pour concrete into Mayon Volcano. I hereby at this grounds consider her for a vote of no confidence."
This would put Deputy Prime Minister Leni Loud into hot water. This would probably get her out of office as well. The same can also apply to government officials and appointees who are not doing their job.
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