Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178417540948820220824-supreme-court-facade-GC-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Supreme Court building in Padre Faura, Manila on August 24, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The Supreme Court en banc dismissed the indirect contempt petitions filed against Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon, and political analyst Richard Heydarian.The separate petitions filed by lawyers mark Kristopher Tolentino and Rolex Suplico against Heydarian and Cendaña and by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio against Gadon both stemmed from statements made in relation to the high court’s July 25, 2025 decision declaring the 4th impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional. In its decision promulgated on April 8, 2026, the court stated that it will not hesitate to punish those who utter false comments but at the same stressed that political speech and its circumstances must also be carefully assessed.“In wielding our inherent power of contempt, this court should also be wary and discerning of attempts of others to suppress critical speech that feeds democracy,” the court said in the decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.In the decision, the court noted the statements by the respondents following the release of the July 25 decision. Heydarian posted on X that 13 out of 15 justices of the Supreme Court are appointees of former President Rodrigo Duterte while Cendaña said the dismissal of the impeachment complaint sets a dangerous precedent and the high court disregarded the Constitution. Gadon for his part referred to the court as “tuta ng mga Duterte.”Petitioners Tolentino and Suplico said the statements of Heydarian and Cendaña undermined the authority of the Supreme Court while petitioner Topacio said Gadon inflicted damage on the dignity of the court. Heydarian counter-argued that he was just stating a fact and Cendaña reasoned out that his statements were not proven to have the intent to degrade the administration of justice. Invoking his freedom of expression, Gadon said the general public is already aware of the “biases” of the Supreme Court. The court emphasized that in the digital age where social media sites allow the public to share their “hot takes”, it should be selective in deciding “what is worthy” of its attention.“On the other hand, while the public has the right to be critical about the Court&#x27;s decisions and its policies, there is no license for anyone to abuse their freedom of speech,” the court said. The court also affirmed its commitment that public discussions on public interest cases should be free.“There should be space for democratic discourse where the people are given the widest latitude to express their opinions without fear of being subsequently punished,” the court said.<div> </div>.

The Supreme Court en banc dismissed the indirect contempt petitions filed against Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon, and political analyst Richard Heydarian.

The Supreme Court en banc dismissed the indirect contempt petitions filed against Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon, and political analyst Richard Heydarian.

SC dismisses indirect contempt complaints vs Cendaña, Gadon, Heydarian

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SC dismisses indirect contempt complaints vs Cendaña, Gadon, Heydarian

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 16, 2026 12:19 PM PHT

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