THE new leadership of the House of Representatives should act as an equal rather than a follower of the executive department, and perform its task of checking government.
The optimism among Cebu leaders following the rise of former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Speaker stems from how Cebu figured in Arroyo’s presidency. But she is no longer president, she is leader of a part of Congress, a separate but equal branch to the executive.
Cebu’s leaders described Arroyo as a friend and one who could prioritize local needs during deliberation of a new annual budget. Mayor Tomas Osmeña said, “She’s very close to the Cebuanos. Remember that she’s the only president in the history of the Philippines who took her oath of office before the people of Cebu. She’s very close to the people of Cebu who gave her a resounding majority (when she ran for president).” Arroyo is a member of the ruling PDP-Laban party.
It seemed local officials willingly set aside the fact that the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against her for the alleged misuse of P366 million worth of sweepstakes intelligence funds during the last years of her administration. A long legal battle followed, culminating in a Supreme Court decision in 2016 to acquit her.
With her place now as third in the line of succession to President Rodrigo Duterte should he be unable to complete his term, Arroyo has regained her status as an i
What was uncomfortable was her statement upon her election to Speaker. She said, “I am extremely honored to have been supported by my colleagues at the House of Representatives to be their new Speaker. I will endeavor to carry out the legislative agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte in the Lower House.”
Reports said that could mean supporting Duterte’s directions for federalism and the second package of the government’s tax reform program, among others.
Arroyo was sincere in her declaration of support to Duterte’s legislative agenda but she must not forget that Congress also acts to check executive power.
While the president has made known the laws he wants passed, it is for the legislature to determine if the proposals are sound and fitting under a democracy.
The system of check and balance is meant to ensure the three branches of government have separate powers and could check the exercise of power by the other branches.
This aspect of governance may have been forgotten with the political positioning in the House of Representatives. It is a shame that when Arroyo declared support to Duterte she made no mention of the interests of the people who elected her as their representative and, now, as House Speaker.
With the optimism on how Cebu could benefit from Arroyo’s rise in the House, local officials should take the next step of identifying what it is that needs to be pushed in Congress for Cebu. Cebu’s leaders have to act to convert their optimism into real benefits.