Marcos endorsement won't affect House panel ruling on impeach rap vs. Leonen, solons say

Officials of the House justice panel on Wednesday assured the public that the endorsement of Ilocos Norte Representative Angelo Marcos Barba - whose cousin, former Senator Bongbong Marcos, has an electoral protest pending with the Supreme Court - will not affect their decision on the impeachment complaint filed against SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

At a media forum, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., who serves as a vice chair of the justice panel, said they will only decide on the merits of the allegations lodged against Leonen in the impeachment complaint.

"The relationship of Cong. Barba to Senator Bongbong Marcos, I think it does not, in any way, affect the instant impeachment complaint," he said.

"[The] members of the committee always decide on the merits of the case. We should stop saying that impeachment is just a numbers game. It's not. We have rules to follow and we have to appreciate, observe due process and fairness," he added.

Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, another vice chair of the justice panel, echoed Garbin's statement.

"Whoever filed it is immaterial because there is a right of everyone, a congressman to endorse. Motives of filing are not part of the proceedings," he said.

"Once these are filed, and the form and substance have been complied with, we'll hear the case," he added.

The impeachment complaint against Leonen, filed on Monday by Edwin Cordevilla of the Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government, stemmed from the magistrate's supposed culpable violation of the Constitution for allegedly failing to dispose of at least 37 cases within 24 months and delaying the resolution of cases pending before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.

Leonen was also accused of having betrayed 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.

Barba, for his part, said he endorsed the impeachment complaint against Leonen as Cordevilla is a constituent in his legislative district.

"Mang Ed Cordevilla came to me and as a constituent in my district, I entertained him, I heard his complaint and I believed in it. That's why I'm here as his congressman. I accompanied them, and that's it," he said.

Lawyer Larry Gadon, who serves as Cordevilla's counsel, likewise said there was "no connection" between the impeachment complaint against Leonen and Marcos' election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

Rodriguez, nevertheless, assured Leonen that the committee will give him enough time to defend himself against the impeachment allegations.

"We will afford Associate Justice Marvic Leonen all the time for him to be able to give his evidence. So the decision will be really based on the merits of the case," he said. -MDM, GMA News