How Low Can Larry Gadon Get? Here Are Some Of His Infamous Words

Newly appointed presidential adviser on poverty alleviation Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon has been known for being acid-tongued – calling himself an “anti-bobo (stupid)” crusader, even using “Hindi tayo bobo (We are not stupid)” as his senatorial campaign slogan in 2022.

On Tuesday, June 27, his foul mouth bit him back. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled to disbar Gadon following his viral response to journalist Raissa Robles’ tax evader comments toward President Marcos.

The SC pointed out that Gadon unfortunately failed to realize that lawyers are expected to avoid scandalous behavior, whether in their public or private life.

Justices also noted that while the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the Office of the Bar Confidant have yet to settle six other administrative cases against Gadon, the volume of complaints “indubitably speaks of his character.”

Here are some of Gadon’s most infamous words to date:

March 2016: “Papatayin ko silang lahat. Papatayin ko pati mga ipis at daga” to achieve peace in Mindanao

In a 2016 “News To Go” senatorial interview on GMA News, Gadon was asked what could be done to ensure peace in Mindanao as he was against the then-Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Gadon suggested discussions with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to stop the atrocities in the region. He said he himself to conduct these and would beg 10 times if given the chance.

“Luluhod ako sa kanila, iiyak ako ng bato at dugo para gawin ‘yan. ‘Pag labing-isang pagkakataon at tumanggi pa din sila, lulusubin ko sila ro’n, dadalhin ko ang pwersa ng Sandatahang Pilipinas at papatayin ko silang lahat, (I will kneel before the MILF, cry stones and blood if that’s needed. But on the 11th time I beg and they refuse to stop committing atrocities, I’ll bring the Philippine Army’s entire might and kill them all),” Gadon said.

“Susunugin ko ‘yang mga bahay nila. Papatayin ko pati ang mga ipis at daga. Lahat. Kailangan burahin ang lahi nila. Kahit na masunog ang kaluluwa ko sa impyerno gagawin ko ‘yan (I will burn their houses, kill even cockroaches and rats. Everyone. We need to eradicate their race. Even if my soul burns in hell, I would do that)” he told veteran journalist Kara David.

Because of these pronouncements, Gadon received his first disbarment case from lawyers Muslim Algamar Latiph and Musa Malayang in 2016.

In Dobol B TV’s 2019 “Ikaw Na Ba” senatorial interviews, Gadon clarified he only referred to terrorists in the region. He claimed to be friends with Muslim heads, and have their support for the 2019 polls.

"In fact, nakipag-usap sa akin ang mga liderato ng mga Islam at sila ay naging kaibigan ko at ako ay inendorso nila diyan sa Mindanao dahil napagtanto nila na ang sinasabi ko ay mga terorista (In fact, Islam leaders approached me, we became friends and they even endorsed me in Mindanao. They determined that I was referring to the terrorists in 2016),” he claimed.

Gadon also changed his tone on the now-Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). He said it was a good baseline to finally achieve peace in Mindanao.

“Sapagkat 'yung hinihiling ng ating mga kapatid na Muslim sa Mindanao na magkaroon ng autonomy…dahil naiiba ang kanilang kultura o kanilang mga pamamaraan...maaaring ito ay maging isang pamamaraan upang magkaroon ng katahimikan sa Mindanao (Our Muslim Mindanao brothers are asking for autonomy because their ways differ from us. It could be a good way to finally ensure peace in Mindanao),” he said.

April 2018: “Mga bobo!”

In 2018, Gadon was recorded giving the middle finger and cursing at former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s supporters at the high tribunal’s Baguio court house. Notably, Gadon filed for Sereno’s impeachment at the House of Representatives in 2017 that was backed by 25 lawmakers.

Hours before oral arguments on former solicitor general Jose Calida’s quo warranto petition against Sereno before the SC, Gadon can be heard shouting “Mga bobo!” to supporters of Sereno.

“Etong mga nag-ra-rally na ito mga bobo at mga tanga ito eh. Very clear na ang violations ni Sereno eh, (These rallyists are stupid and uneducated. Sereno’s violations are very clear), ” Gadon told reporters before he was cut off by an off-camera supporter of Sereno calling him “bobo” as well.

After shouting p****g ina mo (son of a b**h) to Sereno’s supporter, Gadon reiterated his points.

“Ayan, mga bobo ‘tong mga ‘to! Mga bobo, mga tanga! Very clear na ‘yung violations ni Sereno eh. Nag-ra-rally tayo at babaliktarin pa nila ‘yung sitwasyon. Mga bobo at mga tanga itong mga ‘to (They’re stupid, uneducated! Sereno’s violations are already clear. They are staging a rally and are trying to flip the situation. A bunch of stupid and uneducated supporters),” Gadon exclaimed.

The incident resulted in three disbarment complaints getting filed against Gadon in 2018. Before the viral clip, lawyer Wilfredo Garrido filed a complaint in March that year for “alleged dishonest, rude and arrogant conduct” during impeachment proceedings against Sereno.

Following the Baguio incident in April, PinoyAko blogger Jover Laurio and others filed for his “criminal complaint” against Gadon and his behavior in the rally. A separate group filed a disbarment complaint solely for his behavior in Baguio.

January 2019: “Itong p****g inang Pulse Asia na ‘to at tsaka p****g inang SWS na ito”

In a 2019 video, Gadon had an explicit rant against election surveys. The rant came weeks after the Pulse Asia and the Social Weather Stations and published their own election surveys. 

According to Gadon, these surveys are “yellow” propaganda, referring to the Liberal Party’s color.

“Fifty-five million, tapos mag-su-survey sila, 1,800? Aba! Itong p****g inang Pulse Asia na ‘to at tsaka p****g inang SWS na ito, ang mga founder niyan, mga dilawan…Kaya itong p****g inang Pulse Asia ‘wag kayo maniwala diyan. ‘Yang p****g inang SWS na ‘yan, puro panloloko ‘yan, (There are 55 million voters and yet firms will only survey 1,800 respondents? These sons of b****es Pulse Asia and SWS, these were founded by the yellows…So these sons of b****es Pulse Asia and SWS, don’t believe them because they are full of trickery),” Gadon said.

“Gusto lang tayo lokohin ng mga p****g inang h***t na mga p****g inang Pulse Asia at SWS. ‘Yan kasi mga p****g inang mga ahas na p****g inang ‘yan, gusto lang tayo lokohin kaya ‘wag kayo maniwala dyan. Tayo ngayon ang namamayagpag sa social media, (These sons of b****es just want to trick us! These snakes, don’t believe in them because we are the ones winning on social media),” he added.

Gadon cited a “social media survey” with 165,000 respondents, and placed him in third. Without considering sampling techniques, he reiterated the firms were propagandists for only having 1,800 respondents.

“Pulse Asia, SWS, mga palpak, mga propagandist, mga manloloko. P******g ina niyo! Mga h****t kayo,” he stressed.

August 2020: “I don’t believe in masks outdoors.”

Gadon also found himself viral midway into the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of his rants, Gadon was seen wearing a face shield with a face mask taped on it, defeating its purpose to protect against COVID-19.

“I don’t believe in mask outdoors. Face shield is okay. Mask may be good for small enclosed places like enclosed places like elevators or small conference rooms. In my case, the mask is only for a show because stores will not allow entry if you don’t have [a] mask,” Gadon said, refuting medical professionals.

At the time, mandatory masking was part of government health protocols to curb the spread of the killer virus.

“If [the] mask is really effective, how come there are more than 100,000 people afflicted with COVID-19? And more than 2,000 dead victims,” he continued.

Gadon further downplayed the virus, comparing it to cough, colds or the flu. He claimed “COVID-19 fear” was created by paranoia, and the government overreacted to it. According to Gadon, a “strong immune system” is needed and not a mask.

“COVID is curable AT THE ONSET when symptoms are felt. One should only take the traditional Chinese medicine,” he claimed.

As a result, Gadon was reprimanded by the Department of Health (DOH) and Philippine National Police (PNP). The DOH asked Gadon to stop spreading misinformation, while the PNP warned of an arrest for his noncompliance to health protocols.

“You can hear the international experts and even the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the basis and studies and evidence regarding the use of masks. That’s why we are recommending them so that we can protect people and we can prevent further infection,” DOH undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said at the time.

“Regardless of any belief or point of view regarding the COVID-19, the minimum health safety standard protocol must always be observed by everybody because this is part of the law that was crafted in consultation with credible health experts,” former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar said.

June 2021: “Pero may HIV siya [Aquino]’ following P-Noy’s death

In “Karambola” over dwIZ last June 2021, Gadon alleged that former president Benigno Aquino III had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leading up to his death. Aquino died in the same month due to renal disease secondary to diabetes.

“Pero may HIV siya [Aquino] kaya ‘di gumaling [sa mga sakit niya], according to my friend na kilalang kilala [sila], (Aquino had HIV that’s why he did not recover from his illnesses according to my friend who knew his camp), ” he claimed.

Upon being told that Aquino was rushed to the hospital, Gadon said: “Ay patay na nga?”

“[Kung nasugod siya sa ospital] eh sana mamatay na siya, p****g ina niya, (If Aquino was rushed to the hospital, then I hope the son of a b***h dies)” he said upon hearing the news.

In December that year, a disbarment case was filed against Gadon by complainants with HIV due to his remarks.

“Atty. Gadon’s irresponsible, dangerously misleading and sweeping generalizations like – mukhang kalansay [skeleton-like], walang namamatay sa diabetes kung maraming pera [no one dies from diabetes if everyone is rich], hindi gagaling kung may HIV [you cannot recover from HIV], have pushed back efforts to end the HIV epidemic,” the complainants said.

December 2021: “H****t ka, p****g ina mo Raissa Robles! Magpa-k****t ka sa aso” 

Gadon again went viral in December 2021. A video of the furious lawyer made rounds on social media, which was a response to Robles pointing out Marcos’ failure to file income tax returns between 1982 and 1985.

“Hoy, Raissa Robles, p******g ina ‘mong h****t ka, p****g ina. Anong pinagsasabi mo na hindi nagbabayad si BBM [Bongbong Marcos] ng taxes! May certification ‘yan sa BIR [Bureau of Internal Revenue]. P*****g ina mo!, (Hey Raissa Robles…what are you saying that BBM has not paid taxes? He has a certification from the BIR!)” a furious Gadon repeatedly exclaimed.

He even asked Robles to have sex with a dog. “H****t ka, p****g i** mo Raissa Robles! Magpa-k****t ka sa aso, p******g ina mo, h****t ka, p****g ina mo,” he said.

Shortly after the video was posted, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) immediately condemned Gadon for his “abhorrent, beastly behavior.”

"The profanity, expletives and sexist insults against Robles violate Philippine laws on public decency, gender respect and the core principles of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines,” FOCAP said, calling on the SC and IBP to discipline Gadon.

By January 2022, Gadon was indefinitely suspended by the high court, and Robles followed in February 2022 with Safe Spaces and cyberlibel complaints.