Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has officially asked Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to inhibit from his vice presidential electoral protest.
Marcos has requested Leonen not to join any proceedings in the case even if the latter is the member-in-charge of the protest between him and Vice President Leni Robredo.
Marcos claimed that the magistrate is biased, citing the opinions released by Leonen in previous cases, including his appointment by former President Aquino. He also brought up the dissenting opinion of Leonen on the Marcos burial case.
“Justice Leonen will really go into a period of self-examination to see and to convince himself whether or not he has been biased or he has been fair. In my view, he’s been completely biased, he has been completely partisan, he has prejudged this case a long time ago. That is why we filed this,” Marcos stated.
He added that Leonen is using the protest to get even with him for blocking at the Senate the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. Leonen was previously the chief negotiator of the government tasked to communicate with the MILF before assuming a post in the High Court.
“If Justice Leonen continues to sit as the justice-in-charge… it will be delayed for sure. At least kung wala na si Justice Leonen, kung mag-inhibit siya, may pag-asa na hindi na ma-delay, may pag-asa na matatapos in time (At least if Justice Leonen inhibits, there is hope to avoid delay, hope to finish it on time),” Marcos stated.
Meanwhile, Vice Pres. Leni Robredo’s lawyers Beng Sardillo and Emil Marañon responded that it “is another trademark move of Mr. Marcos.”
“If he doesn’t get what he wants, he moves to attack the integrity of an institution or a person to force them to give in to his desires,” they added.
Aside from the motion for Leonen’s inhibition from the case, Marcos is also seeking an immediate re-raffle of the PET for a new member-in-charge of the case. Leonen has yet to comment on the matter. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
