Senator Win Gatchalian is mulling to file a bill mandating a “tandem vote” for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.

Gatchalian cited the need to have the election for president and vice president patterned after a similar practice in the United States to ensure that the selection of the two highest officials of the country will come from the same political party or affiliation.

“Dapat gawing tandem ang pagboto sa president at vice-president. Sa pagpili ng presidenteng iboboto, kasama na dapat sa konsiderasyon ang napiling running mate nito sa pagka bise presidente. Unang-una, mas maigi na magkapareho ang platapormang sinusulong ng presidente at bise presidente para manatiling buo o solido ang pagpapatakbo ng administrasyon. Pangalawa, kung magkaalyado sila at sakaling may mangyari sa presidente, maipagpapatuloy ng bise ang nasimulan ng presidente,” Gatchalian emphasized.

“Sa ganitong paraan, magiging base sa plataporma ang pagpili sa mga susunod na lider at hindi sa personalidad,” he added.

Considering that the next round of poll exercise is just around the corner, the senator said he will pursue the amendment in the 1987 Constitution for future national elections.

“Hindi na mangyayari ito sa darating na halalan dahil kulang na sa oras. Gusto ko lang buksan ang paksang ito para pag-aralan ng mga susunod na lider ng bansa,” he said.

Instead of split voting, selecting a single ticket would be easier for the voters as a vote for a particular presidential candidate would also mean casting a vote for his or her vice-presidential running mate, Gatchalian explained.

Under Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, “the President and the Vice President shall be elected by direct vote from the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the 30th day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter.”

Gatchalian said he is studying to introduce a piecemeal amendment to the Constitution to pave the way for the election of the two highest government officials as a single ticket.

“Hindi nakakatulong sa atin kung magkaiba ang pananaw ng presidente at bise presidente sa mga polisiyang dapat na itinataguyod ng administrasyon lalo na kung mababahiran ito ng pamumulitika,” he said.