The "Opposition" Led By Leni Loud Robredo Can't Be Formalized In The CURRENT Presidential System

Get Real Philippines has its latest article where it discussed how foolish it is for Leni Loud Robredo to believe that she leads the "opposition". Clueless Benign0 actually dared to write an article that had inspired this entry. The problem right now with Vice President Leni Loud Robredo is that she's aiming for TWO DIFFERENT OFFICES at once - vice president and opposition leader. Another big problem with the current system is when the president and vice president keep coming up from the same party. Maybe, it was no problem with Fidel V. Ramos, Joseph Estrada, and Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino with their vice presidents coming from different parties. The problem only became more recurring when President Rodrigo R. Duterte has to deal with Leni Loud as his vice president. Leni Loud herself is really trying to be both opposition leader AND vice president at the same time. 

The presidential system doesn't have a really well-defined opposition. It's because people vote by CANDIDATES rather than by PARTIES. The presidential system tends to just mix and match the majority bloc and the minority bloc. It's also problematic that presidential systems are winner takes all rather than majority wins BUT minority has a voice. Real democracy is a rule of the people, by the people, and for the people - not a rule of the majority, by the majority, and of the majority. Unfortunately, presidential systems tend to make it where the majority wins and the minority hardly has a voice. Right now, can you really say that the Philippines' opposition led by Leni Loud has done a better job in the check and balance section? Unfortunately, the answer is no. It's because the current presidential system doesn't even give a well-defined role between the minority and the majority.

However, the parliamentary system defines the Majority and Minority floors (Government and Opposition) well with features NOT available in the current presidential system. For one, the current Leni Loud-led opposition can only do very little check and balance. Leni Loud can't be the deputy prime minister if she's in the opposition. Leni Loud can however be the Opposition Leader IF she's in the opposition and she was selected by her party. There's also the weekly question hour between the Majority and the Minority. Even better, the weekly question hour is TELEVISED and the results are required to be published in the media. The media can't do check and balance unless there was a real weekly question hour where real checks and balances happen. It's because the opposition can't just oppose - they must offer their alternatives. Leni Loud can't just point out the problem - she (along with her party mates) must also OFFER their solutions along with it.

Is the Philippines really THAT READY for parliamentary? I would dare say yes because there's already an opposition. Leni Loud already is leading it but she must step down from the vice presidency to become a real opposition leader. The only thing they need is to be truly formalized. However, their wish to be formalized can't happen under the recent system. A real formalization can only happen if the current opposition will really support constitutional reform towards the parliamentary system.