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Justice Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen photo from www.sc.judiciary.gov.ph
MANILA, Philippines – The Makati chapter of the Philippine Integrated Bar Association (IBP) has expressed support for Deputy Supreme Court Justice Marvic Leonen, saying that the impeachment complaint against the magistrate “should alarm members of the Bar Association. Lawyers from the Philippines as judicial independence and respect for the legal procedure is again threatened ”.
“We value and respect the need for the observance of judicial independence, the cornerstone of our democratic system. We ask our brothers in the legal profession to remain vigilant against contemptuous efforts to undermine the very essence of the judiciary, ”the IBP-Makati chapter said in a statement on Friday.
The IBP-Makati chapter added that the Leonen, as well as other magistrates, “must be able to decide the issues before them free from any threat of retaliation and retaliation.”
“There is no greater betrayal of public trust than a misuse of the constitutionally enshrined safeguards put in place to guarantee the independence of our judiciary to defeat this very purpose,” said the IBP.
“This is compounded by the fact that the alleged grounds for impeachment do not meet the requirements of the recognized constitutional grounds of culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, bribery and corruption, other serious crimes or treason of public trust. “
It was Edwin Cordevilla, secretary general of the Philippine League of Good Government Defenders, who filed the impeachment complaint against Leonen, citing “culpable violation of the Constitution and treason of public trust.”
The impeachment lawsuit was supported by Ilocos Norte representative Angelo Barba, the former senator’s cousin and defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
The IBP-Makati then urged members of the House of Representatives to “be aware of all government institutions to respect and observe the independence of our judiciary.”
Earlier, House Vice Speaker Rufus Rodriguez promised that members of the lower house of Congress will insist on their exclusive jurisdiction in Leonen’s impeachment case.
JPV
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