Congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima of Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list sees herself aligning with the House minority in the upcoming 20th Congress, but never with solons who support former president Rodrigo Duterte and his family.
The biggest reason? The minority bloc must act as fiscalizers, not obstructionists.
In an interview with House of Representatives reporters on Monday, June 2, De Lima was asked why she thinks a Duterte bloc shouldn't 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 (because we're still talking about the possibility that there is a Duterte bloc)," De Lima said.
"Sa prinsipyo pa lang and then sa mga issues, lalo na sa mga political issues (When it comes to principles and then on various issues, especially political issues), I don't think we can join them, we can be one with them," noted the ML Party-list nominee and former senator.
De Lima says that pro-Duterte solons just can't play the role of a true-blue minority or opposition stalwart.
"Kasi kami kung (Because if) we decide to be really in the minority, and it's going to be really yung role ng minority na maging fiscalizer (the role of the minority to be the fiscalizer). But yung (the) constructive fiscalizer, constructive minority. But certainly not obstructionists. Eh yung Duterte bloc ang expectation natin dyan baka obstructionist sila (We expect the Duterte bloc to probably be obstructiinists)," she said.
Further characterizing this potential Duterte bloc members--perhaps based on her real-life experiences--De Lima says they would "just oppose and oppose, as long as politically it would benefit them".
"Hindi naman ganong mindset namin sa LP and sa ML (That is not our mindset in the Liberal Party and ML)," she said, referring to her old national-level political party.
"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 (We are always like that in LP. Our stance and position are issues-based)," she said.