The House of Representatives is capable of multitasking--that is, addressing the fuel price crisis and pursuing Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment at the same time.

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon gave this response to Vice President Duterte on Saturday, March 14 following her criticism of the House that it was prioritizing her impeachment over more important matters like the providing relief to Filipinos who are reeling for runaway pump fuel prices.

“Very important po na maglinaw doon sa remarks ni Vice President Sara Duterte na una, imbes na dapat ‘yung crisis sa langis ‘yung pong … impeachment ng pangalawang pangulo ang inaatupag ng Kongreso at ng pamahalaan. Katulad po ng binanggit ko kanina, hindi po ‘yun totoo,” Ridon said on March 14 during the Saturday Media Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

(It’s very important to clarify Vice President Sara Duterte’s remarks. First, instead of focusing on the oil crisis, Congress and the government are said to be preoccupied with the impeachment of the Vice President. As I mentioned earlier, that is not true.)

“Kaya mag-undertake ng economic relief at accountability measures ng Kongreso all at the same time (Congress is capable of undertaking economic relief and accountability measures all at the same time)," he stressed.

“So ibig sabihin, in the same week, economic relief through suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products tumatakbo po ‘yung proseso nung impeachment ng ating pangalawang pangulo,” Ridon said.

(So this means that, in the same week, while economic relief through the suspension of excise taxes on petroleum products is being carried out, the impeachment process against the Vice President is also moving forward.)

The House Committee on Justice, of which Ridon is a member, is also waiting on the Vice President to answer in writing the allegations contained in two impeachment complaints that it has declared sufficient in both form and in substance.

The party-list solon says Congress has been pursuing urgent economic relief measures while carrying out its constitutional duty to address accountability issues.

The House of Representatives has already passed on second reading the bill authorizing President Marcos to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxe during periods of extraordinary increases in global oil prices.

The measure--which is being expedited by Malacañang amid the uncertainties caused by the war in the Middle East--is expected to be passed on third and final reading during plenary session on Monday, March 16.

As for the impeachment proceedings, Ridon says the ball is actually on the Vice President's court.

“At the moment, inaantay po ng House Committee on Justice ‘yun pong answer ng pangalawang pangulo (At the moment, the House Committee on Justice is waiting for the Vice President’s answer). So I think she has until this weekend and until Monday to submit her answer to the House Committee on Justice,” Ridon told the news forum.