(INQUIRER file photo / ARNOLD ALMACEN)
MANILA, Philippines — The measure seeking to penalize political turncoatism has a higher chance of being passed in Congress than anti-political dynasty bills, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said on Thursday.
Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has filed House Bill No. 488 which seeks to prohibit and penalize turncoatism or the act of switching parties.
“Let us say, anti-political dynasty law na alam na natin na i-o-oppose ng lahat ng members ng dynasty diyan sa lawmaking body, mas may pag-asa pa itong anti-political turncoatism,” Pimentel pointed out on Teleradyo’s On the Spot.
(Let us say, anti-political dynasty law which we know will be opposed by members of dynasties in the lawmaking body, this anti-political turncoatism has more chance to be passed.)
If the bill becomes a law, however, it would only benefit the younger generation of leaders, said Pimentel.
“Siguro ‘yung batas na ito (Maybe this law) will benefit the future generation na na ‘yung mga bata pa lang na papasok na ng politika (who will enter politics while they are young),” he said.
“Kung stuck for life na ‘ko sa partido, mabuti pang intindihin ko na ano ba pinaglalaban nito,” the senator added.
(If you are stuck for life in your party, it would be better to understand what you are fighting for.
Under Arroyo’s bill, politicians who will jump to another political party a year before and a year after any national polls would result in the forfeiture of the elective office that they are running for or the post that they have been elected for.
Noting the provision, Pimentel said that the measure will stop politicians from changing their political party because of advantages.
“Mayroon ‘yang period of time, mga lull period ‘yung hindi pa masyadong mainit ‘yung halalan, allowed kang mag-shift ng party mo,” he said.
(There is a period of time, a lull period when the elections are not yet contested, you are allowed to shift your party.)
“Hindi ‘yung nagshi-shift ka ng party mo dahil lang gagamitin mo ‘yung certificate of nomination ng isang political party na tingin mo charismatic ‘yung leader nila,” he added.
(With that, you are not just shifting parties because you will use a certificate of nomination of a political party that you think has a charismatic leader.)
RELATED STORY:
Presidential bets back passage of law against turncoatism