VOTING 44-0 with two abstentions, the House committee on justice yesterday dismissed the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for insufficiency in form and substance.
Panel members were unanimous in their position that complainant Edwin Cordevilla did not have personal knowledge and has no authentic records to support his allegations — key requirements under the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings of the House of Representatives.
Leonen said the House panel decision affirmed that the grounds raised against him were baseless.
“A dismissal on the mere face of the impeachment complaint affirms the baseleness of the grounds raised. It is an act that powerfully speaks for itself,” Leonen said, adding the swift and decisive dismissal of the impeachment complaint affirms his faith in the House.
Cordevilla, founder of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Governance, claimed that Leonen did not comply with the legal requirement to file his yearly Statements on Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and failed to act promptly on pending cases.
Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba (Ilocos Norte), cousin of losing Vice Presidential bet Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., endorsed the complaint.
Leonen had penned the unanimous decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal which affirmed that Marcos lost to Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2016 national elections.
“The House of Representatives has just affirmed the constitutional independence of the Judiciary by not allowing others to take advantage of the vulnerability of its members. They have created a precedent that warns against the abuse and trivialization of Constitutional processes,” Leonen added.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, in his submission to the justice panel, pointed out that Cordevilla relied on hearsay information, basing his allegations only on newspaper accounts and opinions of columnists. He also that noted pertinent official certifications or authentic records were not attached in support of the complaint.
By failing to surmount even the first hurdle, Lagman said the complaint does not deserve further consideration by the committee.
“Form is not a matter of formality but is an essential prerequisite to be satisfied by the complainant. In fact, it is the least of requirements which a complainant must comply with. His default is fatal,” he pointed out.
As to Leonen’s alleged inaction on 37 cases within 24 months, Lagman noted that the cited constitutional provision was merely directory rather than mandatory.
“Verily, non-compliance with directory matters does not constitute an impeachable offense,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez and Quezon City Rep. Kit Belmonte said that none of the documents and annexes submitted to the committee are certified true copies.
Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said the committee members acted correctly in dismissing the complaint outright.
“I agree with the chair of the Justice panel and my colleagues in the committee: the complaint is insufficient in form and in substance as it lacks authentic records to support the allegations against the magistrate. The complaint therefore has no merit, no substance and no basis,” he noted.
After being informed of the vote, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco declared the impeachment move against Leonen dead in the water and reminded lawmakers of more important matters still requiring their attention.
“The House Committee on Justice has spoken and we must respect its decision. With the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Justice Leonen, Congress can now focus more on the task at hand, which is to produce legislation that would further help our kababayans and the economy recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. — With Ashzel Hachero
