Legislators more interested in reelection than Duterte’s legislative agenda — expert

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers are more interested in reelection than in supporting President Rodrigo Duterte’s legislative agenda despite the President’s popularity, an expert said Tuesday.

“It is a difficult battle because President Duterte’s term is ending in 2022, so supporting him will not give tremendous takes to other legislators. They [legislators] are more interested in reelection,” Prof. Rommel Banlaoi said in a press conference in Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City when asked if Duterte’s popularity will gain more support for his legislative agenda in Congress.

Duterte’s popularity increased after his satisfaction rating increased and reached a new record high in the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

SWS said Duterte received +68 rating, which surpassed his previous record of +66 in March 2019 and June 2017.

READ: Duterte’s rating reaches new record-high in Q2 2019 – SWS

Banlaoi also expressed doubts that Duterte’s agenda, such as federalism, charter change, and the death penalty will be passed in Congress.

“Despite the popularity of the President, what we have learned during the past three years [is that] his popularity cannot be translated to legislative outcome because the legislature has different dynamics in terms of carrying out some important issues,” Banlaoi said.

“The first three years, Duterte already advanced the death penalty [but] it even failed to reach second reading in Congress. Then, federalism it is now like in the intensive care unit at the same time the charter change,” he added. (Editor: Eden Estopace)