Metro Manila, Philippines – Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list Rep.-elect Leila de Lima said she is not keen on sharing the opposition side of the House of Representatives with the possible Duterte bloc members.
De Lima is a staunch critic of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who launched the bloody drug war. She was detained for seven years during the Duterte administration over what she called “fabricated” drug charges.
READ: De Lima remains resolute in seeking justice for alleged political persecution under Duterte
In an ambush interview on Monday, June 2, de Lima was asked if the Liberal Party and ML would share the minority with the possible Duterte bloc.
“Kung ako tatanungin n’yo, hindi [If you will ask me, no]. But it’s my personal take. But again, kailangan talaga, meron talaga kaming [we need to have a] discussion as a group, as a party, as a collective,” de Lima replied.
“Sa prinsipyo pa lang [From the principles], and then sa mga issues, lalo na sa mga [especially] political issues, I don’t think we can join them,” she explained.
De Lima said she expects those who will join the Duterte bloc to be “obstructionists.”
“Kung [If] we decide to be really in the minority, and it’s going to be really ‘yung tunay na [the genuine] minority na magiging [who will be a] fiscalizer, but ‘yung [a] constructive fiscalizer, constructive minority, but certainly not obstructionists,” she said.
The former senator said they have been holding talks with other groups until they assume their posts before coming up with a decision on what bloc to join, but de Lima noted the minority bloc is one of the “strongest” options.
