MANILA, Philippines – Despite his long stint as mayor of Davao City, incoming president Rodrigo Duterte is still an unfamiliar figure to most senators.
This disconnect between a president and the Senate could spell trouble because they have to work together in passing legislation important to both sides.
To prevent this situation from happening, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III yesterday said that he would take on a new role as bridge between the senators and Malacañang.
“We will make it (relationship) as close as possible. It would depend on my colleagues in the Senate how close they want to be with the president,” Pimentel said in a television interview.
“As the party mate of our president, as the only PDP-Laban in the Senate, I will serve as the bridge if this is needed in order for them to be more familiar with each other,” he added.
Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, said that it is important to build personal relationships first before discussing principles on the vision for the country.
He said that a good working relationship between the two institutions of the country is needed so that the legislative effort would be efficient.
“We will achieve the goals of the Duterte administration if the agreements are based on principles,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel said that he is currently helping out Duterte in forming his Cabinet as part of his selection committee.
He explained that the selection committee of Duterte is composed of different groups, including PDP-Laban, which he said was intentional so that different perspectives would be considered.
Asked if he would be part of the Cabinet of Duterte, Pimentel said that he intends to serve out the rest of his term in the Senate, which ends in 2019.
Even as a senator, Pimentel said that he would continue to give advice to Duterte, particularly on his legislative agenda.
“We will always remind him that socialism is in the program of government of the PDP-Laban,” Pimentel said.
In drafting legislation, Pimentel said that he would help ensure that the bills submitted to Congress would have sufficient legal basis so that these would be approved and implemented without any legal obstacles.
“I will always be there. If he welcomes me in Malacañang, then I will be a permanent fixture in Malacañang,” he said.
Senate in Duterte administration
Senators are ready cooperate with the administration of Duterte.
Sen. Vicente Sotto III, who is likely to be re-elected, do not want to comment on the possible change of leadership in the Senate, which is currently led by administration ally, Senate President Franklin Drilon.
“I have no comment yet on the Senate leadership. We are still weighing our options,” he said.
But Sotto sees an “independent Senate,” which will cooperate but not necessarily be a rubber stamp of the Duterte administration.
Sotto added he is also expecting that senators will be starting on a good note after Duterte takes his oath on June 30 and usher in a the new 17th Congress by July.
“I’m expecting a working relationship with the new president but at the same time, looking at an independent Senate. Not opposing but not subservient,” Sotto said.
Returning senator Panfilo Lacson was quick to reject reports that he could become Senate president under Duterte’s term.
“It’s a compromised and compromising position which I won’t fit in,” Lacson said.
When sought for his opinion, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara expressed belief that PDP-Laban president, Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, and Senate majority leader Alan Cayetano will play major roles in the next Congress.
Pimentel and Cayetano supported Duterte’s presidential bid.
“I’m quite sure Senators Koko and Alan will have major roles in the coming Senate since both are senior legislators and both have the trust and confidence of the president,” Angara said.
Angara is not sure how members of the administration-backed Liberal Party will fare in the 17th Congress. Apart from Drilon, those who belong to the LP include Senators Francis Pangilinan, Bam Aquino and Ralph Recto. Former justice secretary Leila de Lima and former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva ran under the LP and are likely to make it into the Magic 12.