LAWMAKERS crossed party lines again yesterday to demand "one-time, big-time" rollback on the pump prices of fuel products, citing the study of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) that prices of petroleum products are still overpriced by at least P6 to P8 per liter.

Citizens Battle Against Corruption Rep. Joel Villanueva, Presidential son and Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and Anak Mindanao Rep. Mujiv Hataman asked the oil companies to give justice to the people who are still reeling from the effects of massive floods brought by twin typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.

"These oil firms must show to the people that they have hearts for them. A one-time and big-time rollback is in order," said Villanueva.

Arroyo said: "I don’t think the 75-centavo reduction for the pump price of gasoline and the 50-centavo reduction for diesel is enough. According to the study conducted by NEDA, the pump prices of fuel are still overpriced by at least P6 to P8 per liter."

Arroyo, chairman of the House committee on energy, said, "I insist to the oil companies to implement a full rollback of the pump prices of fuel which would reflect their true prices and not give us a pittance of a rollback which only insults our intelligence."

Arroyo also reiterated the need for the oil firms like Petron Corporation, Pilipinas Shell and Chevron Philippines to open their books since they "refute the NEDA study but they have been continuously blocking all efforts to have their books of accounts audited by the government auditing agencies."

"If they maintain they are fair enough in their pricing, then they should submit themselves to auditing and settle this issue of overpricing once and for all," stressed Arroyo.

For his part, Hataman scored the oil companies for their fast decision in increasing their pump prices but act slowly in reducing the prices of their products.

"Oil companies must roll back big-time their pump prices to its proportionate possible lowest level," said Hataman.