Palace: Duterte had no hand in impeachment complaint vs Leonen

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has nothing to do with the move to impeach Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for alleged betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, Malacañang said Monday.

“Absolutely not. None,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when asked if the complaint was endorsed by the President.

“Wala pong kinalaman dyan. We don’t even know who the proponents are,” he added.

(He had nothing to do with that. We don’t even know who the proponents are.)

READ: Impeachment complaint filed against Justice Leonen

The complaint was filed before the House of Representatives by private complainant Edwin M. Cordevilla, secretary-general of the Filipino League of Advocates For Good Government or FLAGG.

The impeachment bid was endorsed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba, cousin of former senator Bongbong Marcos whose electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo is still pending at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET). The Supreme Court sits as the PET.

It claimed that Leonen supposedly committed betrayal of trust when he failed to file his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) during his tenure at the University of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Leonen expressed optimism that lawmakers would “do the right thing,” but at the same time cautioned them against entertaining “false issues raised by some for clearly personal or vindictive reasons.”

JE