The Supreme Court (SC) en banc has 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 over their public remarks following the Court's July 25, 2025 ruling that declared the fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte unconstitutional.
In its decision promulgated on April 8, 2026, the High Court said it would not hesitate to sanction false and improper statements but stressed that political speech must be evaluated within its context.
Writing for the Court, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said the judiciary must remain cautious against attempts to suppress criticism that contributes to democratic discourse.
The petitions were filed by lawyers Kristopher Tolentino, Rolex Suplico, and Ferdinand Topacio, who argued that the respondents' statements undermined the authority and dignity of the Court.
However, the SC ruled that while freedom of speech is not absolute, public discussions on matters of public interest must remain protected, emphasizing that democracy requires ample space for citizens to express their views without fear of punishment.
