MANILA – The House of Representatives’ justice committee is set to decide whether the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen is sufficient in form and substance.
The case was referred to the justice panel on Tuesday after members of the committee on rules “overwhelmingly adopted the motion of Iloilo City representative Julienne Baronda to include the matter in the calendar of business, according to House Majority leader Ferdinand Romualdez.
Under Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution, Romualdez cited that the chamber shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.
“The same section of the constitutional provision mandates the House to act on a verified complaint for impeachment filed by any member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any member thereof,” he added.
Romualdez is confident that the Justice panel would “act judiciously on the impeachment complaint based on constitutional grounds and in accordance with established rules and practices.”
The case against Leonen stemmed from the complaint filed by Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government secretary-general Edwin Cordevilla in December 2020.
It was alleged that the magistrate committed culpable violation of the Constitution for failing to dispose of at least 37 cases within 24 months.
Leonen also betrayed the public trust when he failed to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) during his tenure at the University of the Philippines. He also did not meet the requirements set by the Judicial and Bar Council as he “failed to file his SALN for four years” from 2002, 2003, 2008, and 2009./PN
