The House Committee on Justice will start on today (Thursday) the hearing on the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
House Committee on Justice Vice Chairman Juan Fidel Nograles said the hearing on Thursday marks the initial stage of a long impeachment process.
“We are still in the initial stage to determine the complaint’s sufficiency in form and substance and then the respondent, Justice Leonen, will be required to submit a written answer,” he said.
Last March 25, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco transmitted the impeachment complaint filed by Mr. Edwin M. Cordevilla and endorsed by Ilocos Sur Second District Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba to the Committee on Rules.
The committee, chaired by House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, had already 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, 10 days from receipt. It shall then be referred to the House Committee on Justice within three session days.
Velasco, meanwhile, assured the public that there would be a fair resolution of the impeachment complaint.
Earlier, Atty. Larry Gadon, lawyer of the complainant, who was also behind the filing of an impeachment complaint against former SC Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, said he believes that their complaint is “very strong enough” to impeach Leonen.
The magistrate has been accused for alleged failure to file statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) for 15 years during his tenure at the University of the Philippines.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the President, the Vice President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.
It also provides that the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment.
A verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any Member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any member thereof, which shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days, and referred to the proper committee within three session days thereafter.
Also, a vote of at least one-third of all the members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution. The vote of each member shall be recorded.
In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.
The Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. When sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside, but shall not vote. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.