The minority bloc in the House of Representatives assured parties involved in the on-going impeachment process against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen that “proper procedure” will be observed in resolving the case.
This developed as lawyer Larry Gadon, legal counsel for impeachment complainant Edwin Cordevilla, dared Leonen to give up his chairmanship of the 2021 Bar Examinations because the SC magistrate’s attention will be distracted by the impeachment case filed by his client.
Gadon said Leonen will also have his hands full defending himself from accusations that he failed to submit his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) for income he received while teaching at the University of the Philippines.
The impeachment case was referred to the Committee on Justice on Tuesday, May 18.
Paduano assured the public and the impeachment parties that the House opposition will keep a close watch of the proceedings to help ensure an objective resolution of the issues raised by Cordevilla.
The top opposition solon in the Lower House said there will be no "bloc voting" among members of the minority group.
He emphasized that each member of the minority with voting rights in the justice committee is free to deliver their conscience vote on the impeachment.
In his complaint, Cordevilla accused Leonen of sitting on a number of cases assigned him.
Included among the cases cited was the quo warranto petition filed against Deputy Minority Leader and Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, The quo warranto petition was filed before the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal by former Rep. Eugene De Vera. The former solon insisted that Quimbo is disqualified from holding her current position because she violated the provisions of the Philippine Competitions Commission charter that barred her from running in the 2019 elections.
De Vera rested his case a few months after filing the case, pointing out that resolution was needed because the complaint merely sought compliance to the provisions of the law.
The HRET, which Leonen heads, has yet to resolve the case, according to Cordevilla.