From federalizing the republic to opening the country’s doors to China, the Duterte administration “could do anything they want” if administration candidates were to dominate the May elections, Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Chel Diokno warned on Wednesday.
Diokno, a former law school dean, said the Philippines would come close to being a “failed state” if institutions like the Senate were unable to keep its independence after May’s midterm elections.
“If the administration secures a good majority in the Senate, they could virtually do anything they want,” he said at a press conference at the Liberal Party headquarters in Quezon City.
No check and balance
Diokno cited several scenarios that might happen to the country with a Senate filled with administration lawmakers.
“There will be no check and balance in government. They will change the form of government to federalism, and keep opening our doors to China,” he said.
“Virtually anything can happen if the Senate is no longer independent,” he added.
Lacking campaign funds, the eight opposition candidates have struggled to raise the popularity of individual members, with the exception of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Bam Aquino.
Subservience to China
At the same press conference, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay said he believed that the Philippines would be considered a failed state “if we define a failed state as a state that doesn’t work anymore for the benefit of ordinary Filipinos.”
He said the Duterte administration’s apparent subservience to China was an indication of how bad things were.
“If you will look at our relationship with China and the President’s stance toward China, he has taken the side of China more than the side of Filipinos,” Hilbay said.