Another UP Law evening class backs Leonen amid impeachment complaint

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law’s evening class of 2004 has thrown its support behind former UP Law professor and Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen amid the impeachment complaint hurled at him.

According to a statement from the evening class, the impeachment complaint filed against Leonen is not only an affront to the judiciary’s independence but also reeks of wrong timing as both the executive and legislative’s attention should be on solving problems faced by the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And it is our belief in the good faith, competence, impartiality, integrity, patriotism, and probity of Associate Justice Mario Victor F. Leonen that the Class of UP Law 2004E issues its full support.  Justice Leonen was our professor at the [UP] College of Law, and he instilled in us all a deep sense of justice and equity,” the class said on Friday.

“We believe that the impeachment complaint against Associate Justice Leonen is an affront to the independence of the judiciary, and an ill-timed exercise considering the situation when the country needs to focus its economic and political resources on more pressing matters,” it added.

Leonen faces impeachment complaints from Edwin Cordevilla, secretary general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government.  Lawyer Larry Gadon assisted him while Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba endorsed it.

While the complaint against Leonen centers on his alleged non-filing of his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth during his stint as a UP professor, many critics of the government believe that it was a ploy to have the magistrate removed from SC as he currently handles the poll protest case filed by former senator Bongbong Marcos.

Opposition members have noted the affinity between Marcos, Gadon, and Barba, although Marcos’ lawyer Vic Rodriguez denied having any hand in the impeachment complaint.

Marcos recently sought the inhibition of Leonen from his poll protest case against 2016 elections opponent and eventual winner Vice President Leni Robredo, claiming that the SC justice had been biased against his family.

This is not the first time that an evening class from UP Law backed Leonen.  Last Tuesday, the UP Law evening class of 2000 attested to Leonen’s “unimpeachable integrity.”

The evening class of 2004 noted that they would not always agree with Leonen’s stand on various issues, but they believe his wisdom is needed at SC.

“While we do not always agree with Associate Justice MVL’s decisions, his integrity, probity, and wisdom are most needed in the Highest Court of the land during these trying times,” the class said.

“Hence, we earnestly call for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Associate Justice Leonen, and we call on our Representatives to honor their constitutional duty to serve the people in ensuring that justice is truly served, in the continuing service of Associate Justice Leonen in the Supreme Court,” it added. [ac]