‘Unnecessary’ impeach rap vs Leonen ‘a distraction,’ says Hontiveros

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday slammed as “unnecessary” and a “distraction” the impeachment complaint filed against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen at the House of Representatives.

“This is a distraction that will only drag lawmakers and the public into a pointless political fiasco at a time when the government’s efforts should be focused on helping Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the country’s battered economy,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

The complaint, which the senator also viewed as “counterproductive,” was filed at the House by Edwin Cordevilla, Secretary General of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government, who was assisted by lawyer Larry Gadon. It was endorsed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Barba.

The complaint said Leonen “clearly lacks integrity because he failed to file his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN),” citing a newspaper column which claimed that Leonen failed to file his SALN for 15 years.

“Sino ba ang lubos na makikinabang sa paggulong ng impeachment complaint na ito?  Surely, not the Filipino people,” Hontiveros went on.

(Who will benefit from this unnecessary impeachment complaint? Surely, not the Filipino people.)

With the filing of the impeachment complaint, Hontiveros called on her colleagues in the lower chamber to prioritize the needs of the Filipino people amid the pandemic.

“With all due respect to our colleagues in the House of Representatives, I would like to put the spotlight back on the thousands of Filipinos who are bedridden or have lost their loved ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those who have lost their homes due to the recent typhoons, and those who have lost their livelihood amid the economic crisis,” she said.

“Unahin natin ang tunay na pangangailangan ng taumbayan,” she added.

(Let’s prioritize the needs of the public.)

EDV