By Raymund Antonio Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo has called on the need to pass the electoral reform law in Congress that will ban political turncoatism, which she claimed, “makes a mockery of the political parties.” Vice President Leni Robredo (Photo courtesy of Office of the Vice President of the Philippines via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Robredo, who chairs the opposition Liberal Party (LP), said that a framework should be developed so that politicians will stand for their ideals rather than joining a party for political convenience. “Wala tayong prohibition against political turncoatism, so nagiging convenience lahat, political convenience lahat iyong consideration paglipat ng party (We don’t have prohibition against political turncoatism so political convenience is the consideration of everyone in their transfer to another party),” she said. Political “turncoats” — “balimbing” in local parlance — shift allegiance by switching to the opposing party, a common practice that has been an integral aspect of Philippine politics. At present, Robredo noted politicians can easily switch to the political party to which the President belongs. The Vice President said that turncoatism has weakened the country’s government institutions. “Once the political parties are weak, this would not bring about strong institutions,” Robredo, a lawyer and former housing chief, stressed.