June 29, 2023
MANILA (AFP) – The Philippines Supreme Court said yesterday it has stripped a new adviser to President Ferdinand Marcos of the right to practise law over a “misogynistic” outburst against a journalist.
Marcos appointed lawyer Lorenzo Gadon as his adviser on poverty alleviation on Monday, highlighting his “legal expertise and extensive experience in various industries”.
The Supreme Court voted unanimously the next day to disbar Gadon over his “misogynistic, sexist, abusive and repeated intemperate language”, the court’s public information office said in a statement yesterday.
However, Marcos’s top aide, Lucas Bersamin, said Gadon would remain in his position and the president “believes he will do a good job”.
The court cited a viral video in which Gadon “repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks” against a woman journalist before last year’s election, which it described as “indisputably scandalous”.
“The court pointed out that Gadon unfortunately failed to realise that lawyers are expected to avoid scandalous behaviour, whether in their public or private life,” the public information office said.
Gadon, who backed Marcos’s bid for the presidency but failed in his own attempt to win a Senate seat, was previously convicted and suspended from practising law for three months for using “offensive and intemperate language”, and faced 10 other administrative cases, the statement said.
“Although these cases have yet to be decided, the volume of administrative complaints filed against Atty. Gadon indubitably speaks of his character,” it said.
Gadon said in a statement posted on Facebook he would appeal against the decision because the penalty was “too harsh”.
He claimed the reporter had been “blatantly spreading lies” against Marcos during the 2022 election campaign.
The left-wing Akbayan Party described Gadon as a “buffoon” and called on Marcos to rescind his appointment.
After being appointed to new presidential adviser role, Larry Gadon disbarred by the Supreme Court
After foul-mouthed remarks against journalist Raissa Robles, Supreme Court suspends Larry Gadon
The highest court of the land said that it was acting motu proprio or “on its own.”
Jun 29, 2023 | 2:17pm Manila time
The Supreme Court unanimously disbarred Larry Gadon just after he was newly appointed as the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation. The decision comes after a viral video showed Gadon using derogatory language and hurling expletives against journalist Raissa Robles.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the high court condemned Gadon’s “misogynistic, sexist, abusive, and repetitive intemperate language” towards Robles, deeming the video indisputably scandalous and discrediting to the legal profession.
Additionally, the Supreme Court found Gadon in direct contempt of court for making baseless allegations of partiality and bias against Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
It is worth noting that Gadon had previously faced suspension from practicing law due to his use of offensive and intemperate language.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the legal profession is reserved for individuals who possess intellectual, academic, and moral competence. They stated that there is no place for misogyny and sexism in this noble profession, affirming their zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse, particularly when committed by an officer of the court.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Gadon expressed his intention to file a motion for reconsideration, believing the ruling to be excessively harsh given the alleged cause. He also asserted that his disbarment will not impact his new role in the Marcos administration, emphasizing that his appointment does not require the practice of law.
Gadon further clarified that he had ceased practicing law since 2015.
The Supreme Court unanimously disbarred Larry Gadon just after he was newly appointed as the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation. The decision comes after a viral video showed Gadon using derogatory language and hurling expletives against journalist Raissa Robles.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the high court condemned Gadon’s “misogynistic, sexist, abusive, and repetitive intemperate language” towards Robles, deeming the video indisputably scandalous and discrediting to the legal profession.
Additionally, the Supreme Court found Gadon in direct contempt of court for making baseless allegations of partiality and bias against Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.
It is worth noting that Gadon had previously faced suspension from practicing law due to his use of offensive and intemperate language.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the legal profession is reserved for individuals who possess intellectual, academic, and moral competence. They stated that there is no place for misogyny and sexism in this noble profession, affirming their zero-tolerance policy towards any form of abuse, particularly when committed by an officer of the court.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision, Gadon expressed his intention to file a motion for reconsideration, believing the ruling to be excessively harsh given the alleged cause. He also asserted that his disbarment will not impact his new role in the Marcos administration, emphasizing that his appointment does not require the practice of law.
Gadon further clarified that he had ceased practicing law since 2015.
After foul-mouthed remarks against journalist Raissa Robles, Supreme Court suspends Larry Gadon
The highest court of the land said that it was acting motu proprio or “on its own.”
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