Daven Tamayo

De Lima hits Padilla over 'opposing' remark: 'Di ata niya naiintindihan ang trabaho ng minority'

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

Kevin Alabaso

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party List Rep. Leila de Lima has issued a reminder that “opposing everything” makes a lawmaker an “obstructionist,” and not a “genuine minority.” She made the statement on Wednesday in response to Sen. Robin Padilla’s pronouncement that the Senate minority bloc will oppose the convening of the impeachment court in case the House of Representatives transmits the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte for trial.“Hindi ata niya naiintindihan ang trabaho ng isang minority… I&#x27;m part of the minority here. I&#x27;m even the Senior Deputy Minority Leader. That&#x27;s not my understanding of our job here. Yes, we fiscalize, we oppose ‘yung mga sa tingin namin hindi mga magandang polisiya, hindi mga magandang legislative measures… But we’re not supposed to be obstructionists,” De Lima said.“‘Pag ganoon na lahat na lang i-oppose ng minority. You&#x27;re no longer a genuine minority. You would be considered an obstructionist,” she stressed.Padilla made the remark last Monday, May 4, when he was asked if anyone in the minority bloc would oppose the impeachment of the vice president in case it is elevated to the Senate.&quot;&#x27;Di ba ang papel naman ng minority, to oppose? Hindi lang impeachment - lahat ng bagay dito, ang trabaho namin ay i-oppose,&quot; Padilla said last May 4.&quot;So sana &#x27;wag kaming pagbintangan na pag kami ay nag-oppose, &#x27;wag kaming sabihan na kami ay biased. Trabaho po ng minority &#x27;yun. &#x27;Yan ang parliamentary procedure na dapat naming sundin. &#x27;Yan ang sinasabi ng demokrasya,&quot; he continued.When asked if the minority would oppose the convening of the impeachment court, Padilla replied with: &quot;Eh natural lang &#x27;yun.&quot;

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party List Rep. Leila de Lima has issued a reminder that “opposing everything” makes a lawmaker an “obstructionist,” and not a “genuine minority.”

House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and ML Party List Rep. Leila de Lima has issued a reminder that “opposing everything” makes a lawmaker an “obstructionist,” and not a “genuine minority.”