How A Parliamentary System Would've Given A CREDIBLE Opposition During This COVID-19 Epidemic

Is my real problem with the Philippine Opposition criticizing President Rodrigo R. Duterte? Nope, my real problem is when the Philippine Opposition would rather pull off their antics than give useful alternatives to President Duterte. Yup, that's the real problem especially with recent antics by both Antonio Trillanes IV and Florin Hilbay. The problem is really the system. I mean, can you imagine if both Prime Minister Duterte and Opposition Leader Trillanes faced off in a real debate? I'd really blame the presidential system more than the people themselves as to why the current Philippine opposition is showing its stupidity and callousness. Unfortunately, Get Real Philippines still doesn't see the real cause of the COVID-19 callousness is with the SYSTEM itself. Ironically, both Benign0 and his wife Ilda are living in Australia which is a parliamentary country.

It's really upsetting as to how Florin Hilbay has lost both his hair and his brain. Back then, Hilbay was a shining example of how poverty didn't stop him from his successes. But lately, he has become a laughingstock making his success story as the boy from Tondo to a lawyer for naught. The problem I have with Hilbay isn't him criticizing Duterte. Rather, his latest tweet seemingly makes people not have their freedom of choice. He has the right not to watch Duterte's presscon but to enforce it on others? Well, that's another issue. Also, rather than say what he just said - he could've focused on IMPROVING the performance of Duterte by giving out useful alternatives. Truth is, he hasn't learned the biggest lesson as to why #OtsoDiretso lost. Who can remember their stunts when they dared Duterte to ride off his jetski to China? Did they forget that Noynoy Aquino "promised" to get ran over by a train? Also, remember the trip to Marawi? It wasn't enough for them to comment on the slow pace. Why didn't they give alternatives to rebuild Marawi or do they want to take credit for themselves?

So how will all of these change under a PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM? Consider that every week is a press conference with the weekly question hour. The procedure itself restricts people to 7.5 ONLY minutes of speech time. The whole system requires both the Duterte-led government and the Trillanes-led shadow government will have to duke it out. That means both the government and the opposition seriously need to show up. What's even better is that these question hours are TELEVISED and LIVE. That means ABiaS-CBN, GMA-7, CRappler, Non-Inquirer, etc. will have to give the details EXACTLY with the results of the weekly question hour. The process itself will have the Government and Opposition will have to give out their alternatives.

Let's just imagine Opposition Leader Trillanes and Deputy Opposition Leader Leni Loud Robredo will raise up the issue of the budget. The debate between the Government and the Opposition is the budgeting for COVID-19 relief operations. Prime Minister Duterte and Opposition Leader Trillanes will have to duke it out  in the budget. Professionalism is expected from both sides so Duterte and Trillanes should watch their mouths. Also, Hilbay as a member of the opposition CANNOT make people say, "Don't listen to the prime minister! Just listen to us!" It would be because the parliamentary government gives both the majority (government) and minority (opposition) their voices. It's not winner takes all scenario. Both Duterte and Trillanes must have the COVID-19 epidemic and must discuss why the PHP 4 Trillion budget is justified or excessive. Duterte must present all projected expenses and discuss on what to do with any money that won't be used. Trillanes must present all projected expenses and justify why he thinks that money is too excessive. Also, Leni Loud herself may want to show how Angat Buhay can do more for less during the weekly question hour.

Sadly, the presidential system just gave the Philippines a callous and stupid opposition. It's because of the opposition that just wants to win against the government in a popularity contest. That's why semi-parliamentary (Taiwan, South Korea) to full parliamentary (Singapore) Asian countries are doing better than the Philippines. It's all about systems and people!