Leonen: Dismissal of impeach raps affirms judicial independence

Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen on Thursday welcomed the swift dismissal of the impeachment complaint against him, calling it a vote for judicial independence.

Leonen said the unanimous decision of the House of Representatives justice committee to junk the complaint filed by Edwin Cordevilla of the Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government was “an act that powerfully speaks for itself.”

The lawmakers said the allegations were not based on personal knowledge and were not supported by authentic records. Cordevilla had accused Leonen of slow case disposition and failure to file mandatory wealth declarations for years.

“A dismissal on the basis of the mere face of the impeachment complaint affirms the baselessness of the grounds raised,” Leonen said.

“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 it is not the time “to destroy institutions to satisfy greed and lust for power.”

He said the dismissal was a reminder to “some” people “not to waste our time and resources for narrow parochial selfish gains.”

“To the prime movers of this baseless complaint and those who have supported  them, know this: I wish you well, and I wish that you will also find your own peace,” he said.

“There are those in positions of leadership who will clearly see your motives and will do the right thing. Our people clearly see your motives. At the right time, they will do the right thing.”

Cordevilla’s complaint was endorsed by Ilocos Norte Representative Angelo Marcos Barba, a cousin of former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., whose election protest was dismissed by the SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), in February.

It was Leonen who wrote the PET ruling.

“There is no victory to be celebrated by anyone,” the magistrate said, even as he acknowledged his colleagues in the judiciary, deans, professors, and lawyers for their support.

“Humanity faces its most difficult existential challenges. The twin threats of a raging pandemic and the dire effects of climate change should be an inspiration for all of us to find ways to help each other evolve the kind of governance founded on care and compassion.” — RSJ, GMA News