Palace distances itself from impeachment bid vs. Leonen

Malacañang on Monday said it is not involved in a move to impeach Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen over allegations of failure to file asset statements and resolve cases in a timely manner.

Speaking at a news conference, Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said the impeachment complaint was not endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Wala pong kinalaman diyan. We don’t even know who the proponents are,” Roque said.

Filed by Edwin Cordevilla of the Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government before the House of Representatives, the impeachment complaint alleged that Leonen committed a culpable violation of the Constitution for failing to dispose of at least 37 cases within 24 months.

Cordevilla also accused Leonen of betrayal of public trust because the magistrate allegedly failed to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) during his tenure at the University of the Philippines, a requirement set by law.

The complaint was endorsed by Ilocos Norte Representative Angelo Marcos Barba, a cousin of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who recently lost his bid for Leonen’s recusal from the proceedings in connection with his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Leonen said he has not received a copy of the complaint but he cautioned lawmakers against entertaining  “false issues raised by some for clearly personal or vindictive reasons.”

In 2018, Maria Lourdes Sereno, a critic of Duterte, was removed as chief justice by the majority of her colleagues on the ground of lack of integrity owing to her failure to file some required wealth declarations when she applied for the post in 2012.

Sereno’s ouster stemmed from a quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, the government’s top lawyer.  —KBK, GMA News