‘Hybrid parliamentary system’ pushed

MANILA, Philippines - The PDP-Laban party of President Duterte wants to introduce a semi-presidential or a hybrid parliamentary system in the proposed federal government, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said yesterday.

Pimentel, who is president of the PDP-Laban, said under the proposed system, the country would have a president, directly elected by the people as head of state, and a prime minister, chosen by the House of Representatives and formally appointed by the president as head of government.

“This is uniquely Filipino. We adopt the advantages of the parliamentary system at the same time respecting the Filipinos’ preference for a strong president at the helm,” Pimentel said.

He said the president would be in charge of national defense and foreign affairs and would serve as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. He would also be responsible for the appointment of officials in the federal government.

The prime minister, he said, “runs the government” and would have the power over all matters concerning domestic and economic policy that are not assigned to the president.

He would also be responsible for the appointment of officials not covered by the chief executive.

“A majority of the heads of ministries/departments shall come from the House of Representatives. This is the Cabinet,” Pimentel said. 

In addition to the recommended changes in the executive-legislative set-up, he said the PDP-Laban also proposed to abolish the post of vice president but the position could be retained if that would be the wish of the Filipino people.