The Honorable
Larry Gadon
Gadon in 2023
Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation
Assumed office
June 26, 2023
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Personal details
Born
Lorenzo Gacilo Gadon

(1958-03-01) March 1, 1958
Roxas, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines
Political partyKBL
Spouse
Bernadette de Leon
​
(m. 1985)​
Children2
Alma materFar Eastern University (BS, LL.B.)
OccupationPolitician, radio broadcaster
ProfessionLawyer (disbarred)

Lorenzo "Larry" Gacilo Gadon[1] (born March 1, 1958) is a Filipino politician and disbarred lawyer who currently serves as the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation for President Bongbong Marcos since 2023.[2][3][4] Gadon ran for a senatorial seat in 2016, 2019 and 2022 election, all of which were unsuccessful.[5][6][7] Gadon has gained notoriety for his use of vulgar language and his hardline stance against perceived liberals and communists.[8][9] Since 2019, he is one of the co-hosts of Karambola on DWIZ-AM.

Early life and education

Gadon was born on March 1, 1958, in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro to Sulpicio Gadon and Lazarita Gacilo.[10] He obtained both his Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from Far Eastern University.

Career

Gadon is sworn in by President Bongbong Marcos as Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation in June 2023.

Gadon was part of the legal team and adviser of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.[11][12]

Gadon ran for senator in the 2016 elections under Kilusang Bagong Lipunan but failed to win a seat.[11]

He again ran for senator in the 2019 midterm elections, which he again lost.[13]

He ran for a third consecutive time in the 2022 elections, under the senatorial slate of the UniTeam Alliance. Among his platforms were plans to amend the 1987 Constitution. He lost for a third time.

On June 26, 2023, he was appointed Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation by President Bongbong Marcos; he took oath of office before Marcos on July 10.[14] He promoted his version of a government feeding program called "Batang Busog, Malusog" (lit. transl. "Full child, healthy child!", with the initials BBM after the president) as one of his first projects to address youth malnutrition.[15]

Two days later on June 28, Gadon was unanimously disbarred by the Supreme Court, citing his misogynistic, sexist, abusive, and repeated intemperate language.[16] He was also cited in direct contempt for his "baseless allegations of bias" against Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.[17]

Impeachment complaints

Gadon reacts happily following the nullification of Maria Lourdes Sereno's appointment as Chief Justice in 2018. Gadon filed an impeachment campaign against her.

In 2017, Gadon filed an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, claiming Sereno's failure to be truthful in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) as well as tax misdeclarations and unauthorized expenses.[18] After the impeachment procces began, a quo warranto petition was filed on March 5, 2018 by Solicitor General Jose Calida to nullify her appointment. On May 11, 2018, the Supreme Court voted to nullify Sereno's appointment by a vote of 8-6.[12] No impeachment trial took place as the petition rendered the complaint moot.

On December 7, 2020, Gadon represented Filipino League of Advocates for Good Government Secretary General Edwin Cordevilla in filing an impeachment complaint against Associate Justice Marvic Leonen. Prior to the complaint, Gadon requested access to Leonen's SALN to prepare a quo warranto petition but was rejected by the Supreme Court.[19] The impeachment complaint was unanimously junked by the House of Representatives in May 27, 2021.[20]

Political positions

Ferdinand Marcos

Gadon does not believe in the alleged ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family and supported the state burial of Ferdinand Marcos.[21]

Bangsamoro Organic Law

Gadon was against Bangsamoro Organic Law during the 2016 elections. He has since changed his mind and supported it during his 2019 campaign, believing that it will end the decades-long conflict in Mindanao.[22]

LGBT rights

Gadon is against same-sex marriage, believing that it violates the sanctity of marriage.

Freedom of Information

Gadon is in favor of the Freedom of Information Bill.

Communism

Gadon is a staunch anti-communist and opposes far-left groups such as the Communist Party of the Philippines, New People's Army, and the National Democratic Front.

Controversies

Remarks against Moros

In a 2016 interview with journalist Kara David on GMA News TV's News to Go, Gadon said that he wants all Muslims or Moros, even children, killed by burning their homes through the Armed Forces, when he was asked about the problems on Moro rebels in Mindanao. As a result, two Moro lawyers and a peace advocate from Lanao del Sur filed separate disbarment complaints at the Supreme Court against Gadon. Gadon later issued an apology, stating that he was carried away by his emotions.[23] Three years later, he clarified that he was not anti-Muslim and said that he was referring to troublemakers in Mindanao and only supported killing terrorists.[22]

Offensive language

At least four disbarment cases were filed against Gadon in 2018 for cursing and flashing his middle finger during a Baguio protest related to the Sereno case. During the protest, Gadon referred to Sereno's supporters as "mga bobo" (lit. "idiots") and raised his middle finger at them.[24] The video, as recorded by various media channels, went viral on Philippine social media and has been the subject of memes and parodies.[25]

The Supreme Court of the Philippines imposed a three-month suspension on Gadon in 2019 for using “offensive” language towards a doctor in violation of the Code of Professional Responsibility of Lawyers.[26]

On December 15, 2021, Gadon went on a profanity-laden rant against journalist Raissa Robles, who described then-presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos as a "tax evader" for his 1997 tax conviction.[27] As a result, the Supreme Court suspended him indefinitely on January 4, 2022.[28] A month later, Robles filed complaints for libel, cyberlibel and violation of the Safe Spaces Act against him for sexually harassing her.[29]

COVID-19 misinformation

On August 15, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Gadon was spotted in a public gathering wearing a face shield with a face mask taped over it.[30] In a statement, Gadon claimed that the face masks are "only for a show" because stores refused entry to people not wearing them. On a Facebook live video, Gadon made multiple inaccurate claims about mask wearing and advocated alternative medicine such as traditional Chinese medicine and drinking vodka to "cure" COVID-19.[31] Gadon also stated he does not "believe in masks" and the government "overreacted to the COVID paranoia."[32]

Both the Department of Health and Philippine National Police warned Gadon that he may be arrested if he continued to violate quarantine protocols.[33][34]

False claim on Benigno Aquino III's death

On June 24, 2021, Gadon falsely claimed on his radio program Karambola on DWIZ-AM that former president Benigno Aquino III died of HIV/AIDS while laughing about his demise. The former president's family later announced that renal disease, secondary to diabetes, was the cause of Aquino's death.[27] In December 2021, another disbarment case was filed against him by complainants living with HIV for gross misconduct and breaching confidentiality on HIV-related information.[35]

Grudge against Senior Associate Justice Leonen

In an interview with One News, Gadon answered to the hosts that he will wait for Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen to die first before he would ever try to have his disbarment reconsidered, despite the Supreme Court voted unanimously (15-0) for his disbarment.[36] On August 17, 2023, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines expressed their contempt against Gadon's statements.[37]

Gadon is open about his personal grudge against the magistrate, vexing him by mispronouncing his first name from "Marvic" to "Marivic", and would sometimes label him as "dilawan" (transl. yellow; derogatory term referring to Liberal Party and Aquino supporters) for having been appointed by former President Benigno Aquino III into his position in the Supreme Court in 2011. In 2020, Gadon claimed Leonen had no substantial experience in litigation, which were all debunked.[38]

References

  1. ↑ "Gadon, Lorenzo "Larry" Gacilo (KBL)". UP sa Halalan 2022. Department of Political Science of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the Philippines Diliman. March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ Mangaluz, Jean (June 26, 2023). "Larry Gadon appointed as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Journalist files criminal raps vs suspended lawyer Gadon". ph.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  4. ↑ "GADON, Larry | Eleksyon 2019". GMA News Online. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  5. ↑ Gascon, Melvin (May 15, 2019). "Gadon: I'm victim of vote-shaving". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  6. ↑ "'Hindi ako bobo!': Gadon uses wrong COC form for senator". Rappler. October 12, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Gadon links 2022 rivals to 'communists,' claims cheating in polls – all without basis". Rappler. March 16, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
  8. ↑ Abarca, Charie (June 28, 2023). "Larry Gadon advised by Marcoses to 'tone down' words, manners". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  9. ↑ Ballaran, Jhoanna (October 21, 2017). "Gadon says impeach bids aim to 'flush out' 'yellows' in gov't". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Candidate's Profile: GADON, Larry". Eleksyon 2019. GMA News. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Madarang, Catalina Ricci (August 30, 2018). "What's really behind Larry Gadon's 'hindi sila bobo' videos on social media". Interaksyon. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Cabico, Gaea Katreena (April 4, 2018). "Duterte seen with Sereno impeachment accuser". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  13. ↑ "DOH slams Gadon over face mask claim: 'This is not a joking matter'". Rappler. August 17, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Disbarred Gadon takes oath as anti-poverty czar". CNN Philippines. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  15. ↑ Corrales, Nestor (June 28, 2023). "Gadon pitches 'Batang Busog, Malusog' feeding program". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Mangaluz, Jean (June 28, 2023). "Gadon disbarred by SC for profane remarks". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Court Unanimously Disbars Atty. Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon for Misogynistic, Sexist, Abusive and Repeated Intemperate Language". Supreme Court of the Philippines. June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  18. ↑ "25 lawmakers endorse impeachment complaint vs Sereno". RAPPLER. August 30, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  19. ↑ "SC Justice Leonen faces impeachment complaint". cnn. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ Mercado, Neil Arwin (May 27, 2021). "House panel unanimously junks impeachment complaint vs Leonen". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  21. ↑ Malasig, Jeline (March 19, 2019). "Asked about Marcos' ill-gotten wealth, Larry Gadon lashes out at student". Interaksyon. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Larry Gadon denies he's anti-Muslim, clarifies 2016 remark". GMA News Online. January 21, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ Kinjiyo, Gandhi (April 12, 2016). "Moro lawyers, peace advocate file disbarment case against Atty. Gadon". Luwaran. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  24. ↑ Gadon curses, raises middle finger at Sereno supporters, retrieved April 5, 2022
  25. ↑ kvillan (October 1, 2018). "Why people should stop using Larry Gadon as a meme and making him go viral". POP!. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Gadon slapped with three-month suspension over 'offensive' language, SC record shows". October 15, 2019. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  27. 1 2 Yuching, Matthew (June 28, 2023). "Motormouth: Larry Gadon's hateful statements". Rappler. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  28. ↑ Limpot, Kristel (January 4, 2022). "SC suspends Gadon for verbal assault against journalist". CNN Philippines. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  29. ↑ Buan, Lian (February 8, 2022). "Journalist Raissa Robles sues Gadon for libel, and Safe Space violation". Rappler. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Gadon trends on Twitter for unique way of wearing face mask". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  31. ↑ Files, VERA (September 18, 2020). "VERA FILES FACT CHECK: Gadon makes multiple inaccurate claims on mask use, other COVID-19 measures". VERA Files. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  32. ↑ Esguerra, Darryl John (August 16, 2020). "Gadon won't wear mask outdoors, says gov't overreacted to COVID-19 paranoia". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  33. ↑ Tomacruz, Sofia (August 17, 2020). "DOH slams Gadon over face mask claim: 'This is not a joking matter'". Rappler.
  34. ↑ Tupas, Evelyn Macairan,Emmanuel. "PNP warns Gadon: Follow health protocols or face arrest". Philstar.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ↑ Cator, Currie (December 2, 2022). "Gadon faces new disbarment case over HIV remarks vs. PNoy". CNN Philippines. Retrieved June 28, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Gadon says he won't appeal disbarment as long as Justice Leonen is alive".
  37. ↑ "IBP lashes at 'disbarred lawyer' over 'baseless' claims vs SC".
  38. ↑ "Gadon makes wrong claim on Leonen's qualifications as SC associate justice".
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