How The Duterte-Robredo Platform Shows That The Presidential System's Check And Balance Hardly Works

Some time ago, I remembered when I wrote about the problem when the president and vice president come from two different parties. Change the people but not the system? System change equals people change? The big issue is now is that the Duterte-Robredo platform has shown itself that the bigger problem is not just the people but the SYSTEM. Is the real cure to really kick President Rodrigo R. Duterte out and make Vice President Leni Loud Robredo the new president? Unfortunately, what's the guarantee really that those who tagged #LetLeniLead are not bound to tag #LeniResign? For me, the guarantee is too small because when Leni Loud screws up - she too will be overthrown. Not to mention, both Duterte and Leni are showing that the presidential system check and balance is NOT working? Better check and balance under presidential? If that's the case then why not have Leni Loud as president and Bongbong Marcos as the vice president this 2022?

The big issue I'm having right now with both sides is this. Duterte has his presscons and they're late in the evening. Leni Loud has her own presscons but who is she facing against? Not to mention, Leni Loud herself once said that she's willing to lead the opposition against Duterte. This really reveals the entire problem that whether it's Bongbong or Leni Loud who won - the president and vice president are usually from two different parties. I don't mind Leni Loud giving alternatives or plans to help the Philippines recover. The problem is Leni Loud can't hold two positions at once - she can't be Opposition Leader and Vice President at the same time. But how is this fixed under the parliamentary?

Under the parliamentary system - the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister come from the same side of the coin. The Deputy Prime Minister can't be from the Opposition. That means Leni Loud herself can't be the Deputy Prime Minister if the Liberal Party is the Opposition. Leni Loud may handle whatever position she has but only those granted by the Opposition. Leni Loud wants to have a clear role? If she were in the Opposition regardless of position - she would have to give alternatives. Leni Loud shouldn't wait until 2022 if she wants her plans to be a reality. Instead, Leni Loud should consider supporting constitutional reforms NOW if she wants her ambitious plans realized. Then the Liberal Party, if ever they become the Opposition, can actually arrange another term for Noynoy Aquino to lead the Opposition against the Duterte Administration. It's because the Opposition is the Shadow Administration that serves to balance out the Duterte Administration. Also, I don't mind if Leni Loud becomes the Opposition Leader as long as she can do her job. 

The beauty of the parliamentary system is the votation of the citizens by parties. If I vote for PDP-Laban then it's an automatic straight vote with their chosen prime minister. If somebody votes for Liberal Party then #OtsoDiretso gets directly voted with their party and their chosen prime minister. That means the roles of the Government and the Opposition are more defined. For example, PDP-Laban gets the most votes and it will become the Government. Meanwhile, the Liberal Party wins the Opposition seats. Nobody will be holding a position on both sides but only one side. If Leni Loud will lead the Opposition against Duterte then she can't be the Deputy Prime Minister. Instead, Leni Loud will have to get the title of Leader of the Opposition while she must have her own set of appointees. If Noynoy returns for another term then maybe have her as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition or the Shadow Prime Minister. 

Under a parliamentary system, both sides will have a press conference every week in the form of weekly questioning. For instance, Leni Loud is the Shadow Prime Minister and members of #OtsoDiretso are Shadow Ministers. Duterte as the Prime Minister is answerable weekly to Leni Loud as the Shadow Prime Minister. Leni Loud herself must not only oppose but also give alternatives to Duterte. Both sides are engaged with each other, answerable to each other, and anybody who fails to gain confidence is automatically impeached by a vote of no confidence.