Ridon: House can handle oil crisis, Duterte impeachment at same time

In March 2026, Philippine House of Representatives member Terry Ridon, representing Bicol Saro Party-list and chairing the House Committee on Public Accounts, affirmed that the House can simultaneously handle the ongoing fuel price crisis and impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. This statement came amid renewed impeachment efforts against Duterte that began on February 2, 2026, after the one-year ban from prior cases lapsed. The House Committee on Justice held initial hearings on March 2, 2026, and on March 4, 2026, ruled that two impeachment complaints against Duterte were sufficient in substance, advancing them for potential House floor vote and requiring Duterte's response within 10 days.

Concurrently, the Philippines faces a severe oil crisis triggered by Middle East tensions and potential Strait of Hormuz closure, with fuel prices surging up to P38.50 per liter and expected hikes of P19-22 for diesel and P14-17 for gasoline on March 17, 2026. The country, which imports 90% of its oil from the Middle East, faces disproportionate shortages in crude oil, refined products, and LPG, with inflation potentially rising 0.4 percentage points per 10% oil price increase.

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Vice President Sara Duterte criticized lawmakers' focus on impeachment amid other pressing national issues like unemployment and Middle East tensions in a March 13, 2026 statement. Ridon countered this by asserting the House's capacity to manage both crises concurrently, emphasizing that congressional oversight and legislative work can proceed on multiple fronts simultaneously.

The impeachment complaints against Duterte allege misuse of confidential funds, undeclared assets, abuse of power, bribery, and threats against officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This follows a previous impeachment attempt where the House impeached Duterte on February 5, 2025, but the Senate remanded it on June 10, 2025, and the Supreme Court nullified it on July 25, 2025, as unconstitutional due to the one-year bar rule from earlier complaints.