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House panel formally junks impeachment complaint vs. Leonen

By Filane Mikee Cervantes

June 3, 2021, 1:24 pm

<p>Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen <em>(Screengrab from PTV)</em></p>

Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (Screengrab from PTV)

MANILA – The House of Representatives justice committee on Thursday approved a committee report formally junking the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen due to insufficiency in form.

A total of 21 lawmakers voted to approve the committee report and the resolution junking the complaint.

Last week, the panel dismissed the impeachment complaint filed by Edwin Cordevilla, secretary-general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, due to insufficiency in form.

Lawmakers argued that Cordevilla lacked personal knowledge and authentic documents to support his allegations.

"Being hearsay and not based on authentic record, we cannot take this as a ground even on the question of verification on the matter of the court," Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, panel chair, said.

The complaint accused Leonen, an appointee of former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, of alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

However, the magistrate said the issues raised in the impeachment complaint are false.

Ilocos Norte 2nd District Representative Angelo Marcos Barba, a cousin of defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, endorsed the impeachment complaint filed against Leonen.

In the complaint, Cordevilla accused Leonen of culpable violation of the Constitution for allegedly failing to dispose of at least 37 cases within 24 months.

Cordevilla noted that this violates the constitutional mandate requiring the speedy disposition of cases.

The complaint was filed after the camp of Marcos failed to make Leonen inhibit from the electoral protest case filed by Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Last February, the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), unanimously dismissed Marcos’ electoral protest. (PNA)

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