The leader of the Minority Bloc at the House of Representatives on Wednesday assured the public that his group will observe “proper procedure” in tackling and deciding on the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.
House Minority Leader Joseph Stephen Paduano made the statement following the referral of the complaint against Leonen to the House Committee on Justice Tuesday.
The magistrate has been accused of alleged failure to file his statement of assets and liabilities for 15 years during his tenure at the University of the Philippines.
“The House Minority Bloc will ensure that proper procedure will be observed and followed in deciding on this case,” Paduano said.
On March 25, Speaker Lord AllanVelasco transmitted the impeachment complaint filed by Edwin Cordevilla and endorsed by Ilocos Sur 2nd District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba to the House Committee on Rules.
The rules committee, chaired by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, on Tuesday endorsed the impeachment complaint to the justice committee.
According to the rules, the Speaker should have an impeachment complaint included in the order of business or agenda of the House session ten days from receipt of the complaint. It shall be referred then to the House Committee on Justice within three session days.
Velasco had earlier promised to be “fair” in tackling the impeachment complaint lodged against Leonen.
Asked about the impeachment complaint, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez Rodriguez said he was waiting for Committee on Justice chairman Vicente Veloso III to convene the panel to determine the complaint’s sufficiency in form and substance.
Rodriguez also emphasized the justice panel will work on the impeachment complaint “as it is a constitutional duty of Congress.”
“Impeachment is solely lodged with Congress. The Rules of Court cannot prevail over the constitutional provisions. Congress has the sole exclusive authority to impeach. Initiation in the House, hearing, and conviction and non-conviction in the Senate,” he said.