Separate indirect contempt cases filed against Heydarian, Gadon, and Cendaña over remarks on Supreme Court

Separate petitions for indirect contempt have been filed before the Supreme Court against political analyst Professor Richard Heydarian, Akbayan Party-list Representative Percy Cendaña, and Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon. The cases stem from their public statements allegedly undermining the integrity and impartiality of the High Court.

The petition filed by Attorneys Mark Kristopher Tolentino and Rolex Suplico is prompted after Cendana has declared that the Supreme Court had "reduced itself to being the Supreme Coddler of Sara Duterte." Meanwhile, Heydarian made postings on social media that seemed to characterize the judges as beholden to ex-President Rodrigo Duterte. The petitioners characterized both statements as premeditated efforts to impugn public confidence and discredit the judiciary.

On a different petition, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio also brought a case for indirect contempt against Secretary Larry Gadon. Topacio mentioned Gadon's public interviews freely blamed the Supreme Court for being allied with the Duterte family and even called Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo "tuta ng mga Duterte" or "lapdog of the Dutertes."

Under Philippine law, indirect contempt is the acts done outside of formal court proceedings that could demean, hinder, or embarrassment the authority of the court. Penalties could include up to P30,000 in fines and or six months' imprisonment.