EDITORIAL - The minority

The recent tumultuous leadership change at the House of Representatives is leading as usual to political realignments and a reorganization of committee memberships. Also up for grabs are the minority posts.

The minority free-for-all continued yesterday, with a settlement reported to be possible by next week. Beyond agreeing on their new positions in the third and final session of the 17th Congress, the bickering lawmakers should focus on the role of the minority in a chamber dominated by allies of the president.

The congressional minority is normally considered the opposition. But because of the circumstances that led to the chaotic leadership change in the House last Monday, certain members of the bloc that previously constituted the miniscule minority are known supporters of new Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Whether they can still occupy the minority posts in the chamber is still being debated.

While deliberating on this issue, lawmakers should also consider the role of the opposition in a democracy. The opposition is expected to provide the checks and balances to the ruling bloc. This function is important especially when popularity encourages hubris and the administration and its allies are tempted to abuse power.

Because a “super majority” that supports President Duterte controls the House, the chamber is inevitably regarded as a rubberstamp of Malacañang. While the executive might see this in a positive light, making it easier for the President to push his legislative agenda, it also raises concerns that the House could overlook its other function of providing checks and balances to the executive. And there is never a shortage of policies and programs that call for vigilant monitoring in this country.

Vigilance becomes more important amid efforts to shift to a new form of government, with a transition period whose parameters remain undefined. A credible opposition can help ensure that this initiative does not lead to perdition. The House minority has a major role to play in ensuring a healthy democracy.