ATTY. Larry ‘Impeachment King’ Gadon, the lawyer behind the ouster of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, is unfazed by the many ‘statements of support’ issued in favor of his next impeachment target, Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Mario Victor Famorca Leonen.
During the ‘Meet the Press/Report to the Nation’ media forum of the National Press Club last December 11, 2020, Gadon claimed that at least “20 members of Congress” have already expressed their desire to sign the impeachment complaint once Congress resumes its session by next year, after the traditional holiday recess of Congress.
Gadon and principal complainant, Edwin Cordevilla, a newsman and secretary general of the Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government—Maharlika (FLAGG-Maharlika), filed the impeachment complaint against Leonen at the Office of the House Secretary General last December 7, 2020.
It was then endorsed by Ilocos Norte Rep. Angelo Marcos Barba for evaluation and committee hearing by the House Justice Committee.
Leonen, an appointee to the high court in 2012 of disgraced president, Noynoy Aquino, was accused of “culpable violation of the Constitution” and “betrayal of public trust” for his failure to file his annual “SALN” (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth) as required by law and, for not acting on more than 80 cases pending at his sala, including 34 electoral protest cases and 37 ‘aging’ cases or cases that should have been decided within two years (24 months) after reaching Leonen.
Gadon told the forum and Pinoy Exposé that while he understands that the House Justice Committee may no longer be able to start hearing the impeachment complaint, it should commence by early next year, when Congress resumes its regular session.
Gadon further expressed confidence that the removal of Leonen would be “faster” than in the impeachment case he filed against Sereno, who was ousted from the high court in 2017.
Among the issues that damned Sereno back then was her failure to submit her own SALNS; in the case of Leonen, records show, Gadon stressed, the magistrate had never filed his own SALNs for the last 15 years.
“Since respondent failed to file his SALN for 15 years, it would be difficult for the investigating authorities to pin him down in the event that a corruption case is filed against him,” reads part of the complaint.
“If respondent wakes up one day and decides to build a castle for his retirement home, it would be next to impossible to examine his assets and net worth since these were never filed for 15 whole years,” it added.
Gadon added that the statements of support for Leonen “means nothing” as the allegations raised in the complaints against him are “verifiable and existing.”
“They (supporters of Leonen) cannot claim that the complaint should be dismissed because it is based on ‘newspapers clippings.’
“The records of the aging cases and the records of still unresolved election protest cases are there and existing and can be easily verified by the (justice) committee,” he pointed out.
“This complaint easily answerable by ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” Gadon added.
The complainants also dismissed the accusation that they are motivated by “personal motive” in wanting Leonen finally out of the highest court.
Gadon said that of the many ‘evidence’ against Leonen’s “gross inefficiency,” they decided not to include the election protest of former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos against sitting vice president, Lenie Robredo.
He also wondered out loud “why” he would be personally motivated in getting back at Leonen.
“Is there any reason why I should take this issue personally,” he asked.
Gadon added the “best way” to validate the complaints against Leonen is through the conduct of a full-blown hearing by the justice committee.