‘House won’t be Palace rubber stamp’ — Castro

MANILA, Philippines — House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro has denied that the lower chamber would become Malacañang’s rubber stamp in the coming 18th Congress.

Although the House leadership has “traditionally” been allied with the President, the reelected Capiz 2nd district congressman said that “does not necessarily mean that the HOR will become the rubber stamp of Malacañang.”

Castro meanwhile admitted that the opposition is needed in Congress to ensure “balance.” He said this after Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Quezon City 6th District Rep. Kit Belmonte bared that they resigned as Liberal Party’s president and secretary general, respectively.

READ: Kiko Pangilinan quits as LP president | Robredo rejects resignation of key LP officials

“The LP is doing the work of opposition, they are the ones who fiscalize the present administration and the ones who remain as critical collaborator of the present administration,” he said in an interview.

“We need the opposition that’s why I am sad to hear that. I hope that the party will not break up so that still, there could be balance in our government,” he added.

The National Unity Party president nonetheless maintained there should be “collaboration” between the executive and the legislative branch.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is leading the senatorial race based on the latest tally, also allayed fears that the new Senate would become Malacañang’s rubber stamp, even as LP sees a repeat of the “tyranny of numbers” in the18th Congress. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)

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