With Leonen case dismissed, Velasco says Congress can focus on pandemic

SPEAKER LORD ALLAN VELASCO. Photos from the Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives

MANILA, Philippines — With the impeachment complaint against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen now dismissed, Congress can now focus on passing priority measures to alleviate the plight of Filipinos affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Thursday.

Velasco made the remark after the House committee on justice voted to junk the complaint filed by Edwin Cordevilla, secretary general of Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, against Leonen.

“The House Committee on Justice has spoken and we must respect its decision,” Velasco said in a statement.

“With the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against Justice Leonen, Congress can now focus more on the task at hand, which is to produce legislation that would further help our kababayans and the economy recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

Velasco earlier assured a fair trial on the impeachment complaint against Leonen.

During the hearing of the committee on justice on Thursday, discussions revolved around the sufficiency in form and substance of the case.

Some lawmakers pointed out that the complaint was insufficient in form and substance since it lacked authentic records to support the allegations against Leonen.

EDV