CJ defends Leonen from allegations of 'slowness'

Date Published:
Court officials who wish to remain anonymous have spoken to the Manila Times to complain about Justice Leonen who, they say, is sleeping on the job. Criticisms of Justice Leonen started when the Supreme Court decided the case of Justice Marilyn Lagura Yap who was found guilty of gross inefficiency and fined an amount equivalent to one year of her salary for failure to resolve 160 cases when she was a Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge. Justice Leonen participated in the voting of Yap's case.Manila Times reports that Justice Leonen leads the list of pending cases with 82 awaiting decision.

"It was so unfair to penalize Justice Yap with a one year fine while pampering Justice Leonen who was also sleeping on his job. Iba talaga yung tinitingnan sa tinititigan." This was said by a complaining justice, according to the Manila Times. Until today, the news company has not yet revealed the identity of these "court officials."

MANILA TIMES: "The sources said Leonen was very slow in disposing of cases because he was too focused on dissents and reflections rather than the dispositive aspect. Other senior justices who are much older than Leonen have better records when it comes to resolving cases — Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa and Justice Alexander Gesmundo. Leonen is the third most senior justice in the high court." (Justices decry court ‘coddling’ of Leonen. Jomar Canlas, TMT. October 23, 2020. www.manilatimes.net)

Defending Justice Leonen, Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said: "[He] has his own style. Medyo mahaba magsulat (He writes long). We have to respect his manner of solving his cases."

MANILA TIMES: "Peralta said each of the court’s magistrates has his own way of resolving cases. He refused to comment on the judicial officials’ perception that the court is treating Leonen with kid gloves." (Chief Justice defends Leonen. Undated. No author. https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/10/24/news/top-stories/chief-justice-defends-leonen/785002/)