The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) described as “powerful and commendable” the “unanimity, dispatch and decisiveness” by which the House of Representatives acted on the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic M. V. F. Leonen.

In a 37-0 vote, the members of the House Committee on Justice dismissed last Thursday, May 27, the impeachment complaint filed last December against Leonen for insufficiency in form and substance.

In a statement, Leonen said the dismissal of the complaint was an affirmance of “the constitutional independence of the judiciary by not allowing others to take advantage of the vulnerability of its members.”

Leonen also said: “Finally, 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.”

In its statement, the IBP – through its President Domingo Egon Q. Cayosa -- said: “The unanimity, dispatch and decisiveness by which the lawmakers and their leaders resolved the case is powerful and commendable.”

Cayosa said the dismissal should “renew our hope for the rule of law, strengthen our resolve to promote the independence of the judiciary, and inspire us to confidently and courageously discharge our duties fairly as the facts and the law demand. “

“May it also demonstrate that responsible leaders can set aside narrow and personal interests to focus on the more important tasks during this pandemic and of nation-building,” he said.

He stressed that “impeachment is an important constitutional accountability mechanism that should not be invoked on flimsy and dubious grounds.”

“Magistrates should be allowed to judge without fear of retribution or reprisal,” he added.