The House of Representatives is moving ahead with priority legislation and impeachment preparations as it waits for the Senate to resolve internal disputes that have affected the chamber’s regular work and the pending trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
A senior House solon said House members remain focused on passing key measures, including priority bills identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), while the prosecution team separately prepares for the impeachment trial.
The Senate is currently dealing with leadership issues, debates over its rules, and questions on remote participation amid the unresolved legal situation of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who is facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant in connection with the Duterte administration’s drug war.
“Very fluid. Fluid ‘yung situation nila. Siyempre naka-focus kami, may hinahabol po tayo na LEDAC bills. So multi-tasking po talaga sa House ngayon, hindi lang naman po sa impeachment but individually the prosecutors are preparing,” Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said over a podcast interview.
He said lawmakers who are not directly involved in prosecution work are concentrating on measures the House hopes to approve before the break.
He cited several bills being pushed in the chamber, including additional LEDAC measures, the proposed anti-political dynasty bill, the House’s KALINGA bill, and a proposed measure against fake news.
“Yung iba naman po, nakatutok po sa mga hinahabol natin na LEDAC bills. Well, kahapon may additional pa ng lima. So 20 plus five, siyempre ‘yung pagbobotohan ang anti-dynasty bill, yung KALINGA bill ng House,” Ortega said.
He said the House wants the Senate to settle its internal concerns soon so both chambers can return to regular legislative work and proceed with the impeachment trial.
Ortega said some issues could have been addressed through private discussions before they reached the Senate floor and disrupted proceedings.
“Well, marami na aayos kasi sana sa huddle kesa umabot sa ganoon. Pero ‘yun nga po medyo mainit ng konti pero sabi ko at the end of the day siguro mas maganda maayos na rin po nila para maumpisahan na po yung regular business and the impeachment trial as well,” he said.
He stressed that the House has no ill will toward the Senate, but said both chambers must be able to work together on legislation, bicameral conferences, and the constitutional process involving Duterte.
“Sa amin gusto namin talagang mag-ayos na sila para mag-settle na ‘yung dust. Then we can go on with business as usual. At siyempre po yung trial natin na ang tagal po inaantay na ng taong bayan ‘yan,” he noted.
He said the concern is practical, not partisan, because stalled Senate proceedings could affect both urgent legislation and the impeachment process.
“So wala naman po tayong ill will towards them. Ang gusto po natin, ma-settle na po yung issues, yung mga concerns nila. Kasi magkakatrabaho po kami ng mga yan,” Ortega said.
“At the end of the day, gusto mo yung mga bills, ‘yung mga batas, ‘yung mga measures na importante, kailangan pumasa na po lahat ‘yan,” he added.