De Lima Affirms Minority Role in 20th Congress
Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list has made it clear that she plans to join the House minority in the upcoming 20th Congress. However, she firmly rejects any alliance with solons who back former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family. The key reason? De Lima insists that the minority bloc must serve as fiscalizers, not obstructionists.
In a recent interview with House reporters, De Lima was asked why she believes a Duterte bloc should not be part of the opposition. “You know, I can’t really speak on behalf of our group. Kasi pinag-uusapan pa lang yan yung possibility na there is a Duterte bloc,” she said, referring to ongoing talks about a potential Duterte faction in Congress.
Principled Opposition Stance
“Sa prinsipyo pa lang and then sa mga issues, lalo na sa mga political issues, I don’t think we can join them, we can be one with them,” added the ML Party-list nominee and former senator. She emphasized that the Duterte supporters cannot fulfill the role of a true opposition minority.
De Lima explained, “Kasi kami kung we decide to be really in the minority, and it’s going to be really yung role ng minority na maging fiscalizer. But yung constructive fiscalizer, constructive minority. But certainly not obstructionists. Eh yung Duterte bloc ang expectation natin dyan baka obstructionist sila.”
Constructive Fiscalizers, Not Obstructionists
She further described potential Duterte bloc members as likely to “just oppose and oppose, as long as politically it would benefit them.” De Lima contrasted this with her own party’s values, saying, “Hindi naman ganong mindset namin sa LP and sa ML.”
“Yes, we would want to be fiscalizers. Yes, we would want to take positions based on issues. Ganon naman kami lagi sa LP. Issues-based ang aming stand, ang aming position,” she added, highlighting the Liberal Party’s commitment to principled, issue-based opposition.
De Lima’s remarks reflect a clear intention to uphold the minority’s role as watchdogs who hold the majority accountable, rather than simply opposing for political gain. This stance sets her apart from those who might use opposition status for obstruction.
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