SC junks petitions vs Cendaña, 2 others
MANILA, Philippines — Indirect contempt petitions filed against two state officials and a political analyst who criticized the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case were dismissed by the SC.
Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon and political analyst Richard Heydarian had slammed the SC for declaring as unconstitutional the impeachment case filed against Duterte.
“We uphold the respondents’ exercise of their political speech. Thus, this court hesitates to wield its power of contempt,” the SC said.
Gadon’s statement, “though arguably disrespectful, was not directed at obstructing judicial proceedings nor intended to influence the outcome of any pending case,” the SC noted.
Gadon had called SC justices “tuta (lapdogs) ng mga Duterte.”
Cendaña “should have treated the court with respect” being a member of a co-equal branch of government,” the SC said. Cendaña had reportedly called the high court the “Supreme Coddler” of Duterte.
Heydarian had pointed out that former president Rodrigo Duterte appointed 13 out of 15 SC justices.
Petitions against the three were filed by lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Mark Kristopher Tolentino and Rolex Suplico.
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