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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Leonen impeachment hearings start; involvement of HRET a cause for concern?

Leonen impeachment hearings start; involvement of HRET a cause for concern?

Published May 26, 2021 08:08 pm

The impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen starts rolling in the House Committee on Justice on Thursday, May 27 with the complainants airing concerns on objectivity as a result of the involvement of the House of Representative Electoral Tribunal in the case.

Lawyer Larry Gadon, counsel for complainant Edwin Cordevilla, said that certain legal luminaries believe that Leonen is not the only one on trial when the justice panel launches the impeachment proceedings.

“The Committee on Justice will also pass judgment on the HRET which is chaired by Justice Leonen. My client has accused Leonen as head of the legislative-judiciary panel of delaying the resolution of a case that requires mere compliance to the clear provisions of the Philippine Competitions Act (PCA),” said Gadon.

Chaired by Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, the justice panel on Thursday will determine whether or not the complaint is sufficient in form. It will then proceed to schedule hearings to determine sufficiency in substance.

The HRET is composed of three members of the Supreme Court and six congressmen.

Cordevilla cited the long delay in the resolution of a quo warranto petition filed with the HRET as among the grounds supporting his impeachment complaint against Leonen.

Gadon said the case was filed by former Rep. Eugene De Vera against Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, who resigned as commissioner of the Philippine Competitions Commission a few months before filing her candidacy for congressman.

He explained that under Republic Act 10667 or PCA, the PCC chairman and its commissioners are prohibited from running for any public office in the election immediately succeeding “their cessation from office.”

“Some colleagues in the legal profession are convinced that a guilty verdict against Leonen may also be seen as an indictment of congressmen who are members of the HRET,” noted Gadon.

“We hope House members will not see this the way others see it. Otherwise, objectivity among those who will judge the issue will be hard to come by," he stated.

De Vera called on the HRET for an immediate ruling on his petition a few months after filing it. He pointed out that it was clear that Quimbo was a PCC commissioner before filing his certificate of candidacy as congresswoman during the 2019 elections.

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