Reelectionist Senator Risa Hontiveros believes that allowing "tandem voting" for the two highest positions in the government will be crucial in forming a good synergy in implementing necessary reforms for the country.
Claiming that previous pairing of elected presidents and vice presidents coming from different political parties or tickets have "slowed down" reforms in the country, Hontiveros said an electoral system of political reform allowing voting a tandem can be done to address the issue.
"any times in the past that led to dynamics na (that) probably slowed down some reforms or possibly naglikha ng mas mabigat pa na problema (created more serious problems)," Hontiveros said at the Catholic e-forum on Thursday, March 31.
"So, I really think, maganda, positibong i-consider na magkaroon po tayo ng isang electoral system o political reform na sabay ihahalal yung at least top 2 positions (it's good and positive to consider having an electoral system or political reform to elect the candidates under one ticket at least to the top two positions)," she added.
The lawmaker, who is running for another seat in the Senate under the ticket of Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, said that it will be beneficial for the country to have a good synergy at least in the executive branch.
The senator was asked about this following the recent pairing of Robredo with other vice presidential bets through local politicians' endorsements.
Hontiveros, who has also been joining the sorties of the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem in various provinces in the country, admitted that the recent development is an "adjustment" they must take on at this point of the campaign period.
After what happened in Eastern Samar Grand People’s Rally in Borongan City on March 29, where Pangilinan begged off amid the endorsement of local leaders only for Robredo, Hontiveros said she looks forward to the day when this is no longer an issue.
"I really do look forward to the day, sooner than later, for a free and complete campaigning of all candidates in the same ticket and that no candidate, especially for one of the top two positions, will feel constrained to attend campaign sorties in any place of the republic," Hontiveros said.