‘Pasalamat Nga Sila, Hindi Ko Sila Pinapatay’: Gadon Unapologetic, Says Critics Deserve Profanities

Now the presidential adviser for poverty alleviation, suspended lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon maintained on Tuesday, June 27, there was nothing to be sorry about the profanities and tirades he hurled against his critics in the past because they deserved it.

"Hindi ako hihingi ng tawad kasi unang-una, sila ang may kasalanan, kasi nagkakalat sila ng kasinungalingan. Pasalamat nga sila, hindi ko sila pinapatay. Buti nga minura ko lang (I’m not going to ask for forgiveness because in the first place, they were the ones at fault because they spread lies. They should be grateful I didn’t have them killed. It’s good that I just cursed them),” Gadon told radio dzBB in an interview.

“Ang ibig ko lang sabihin, kasalanan din naman nila bakit sila namura, magkalat ba naman sila ng paninira (What I mean is, they were cursed because they asked for it, they were trying to destroy me),” Gadon said.

But in an interview with “One Balita Pilipinas” on One PH also on Tuesday, Gadon also revealed that no less than President Marcos called him out for his profanity-laced tirades in the past.

As a senatorial candidate running under UniTeam in the 2022 national elections with Marcos as standard bearer, Gadon said the Chief Executive asked him to watch his mouth.

“Sinabihan niya ako [Marcos] na kung maaari mag-tone down ako sapagkat yun ‘yung panahon ng campaign…gusto niya maging maayos ‘yung campaign noon na ‘di adversarial ‘yung aming dating (President Marcos told me to tone down since it was the campaign period…he wanted the campaign to be smooth where we would not come off as adversarial),” Gadon recalled.

In a separate interview, Gadon claimed he has since mellowed down following Marcos’ request.

"Magmula ng ako ay napagsabihan ni mahal na Pangulo na mag-tone down, ako naman ay sumunod sa kanya,” Gadon said.

Gadon was appointed as the presidential adviser for poverty alleviation on Monday, June 26. According to a Presidential Communications Office (PCO) statement, Gadon would work with government agencies and non-government organizations to create programs “addressing the root of poverty.”

However, Gadon is mostly known for his profanities. He became viral in 2018 when he cursed and flashed a middle finger at former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s supporters in Baguio City.

In January 2022, he was suspended by the Supreme Court (SC) for spewing obscenities and sexist remarks at journalist Raissa Robles after she called Marcos a tax evader in December 2021. By February 2022, Robles filed cases against him, which are still “very much alive,” according to Robles.

“‘Yun naman kaso na inihain ni Raissa Robles ay na-dismiss na ‘yun, that’s two years ago. Hindi nga nakaporma ‘yun kasi hindi naman ako ‘yung nag-upload ng video, sila ang nag-upload ng video (Raissa Robles’ cases are already dismissed, that’s two years ago. That can’t work because I did not upload the video, they were the ones who uploaded that),” he claimed.

Marcos Names Suspended Lawyer Gadon As Adviser For Poverty Alleviation

Anti-hunger program

As regards his new job, Gadon said he will seek the support of the private sector for the government’s anti-hunger program dubbed “BBM” or “Batang Busog Malusog.”

BBM is short for Bongbong Marcos.

Speaking at a televised public briefing on Tuesday, Gadon said the BBM program aims to address malnutrition among public elementary school students.

He cited a study attributing the students’ poor performance to lack of nutrition or hunger.

“Therefore, one of the first things we will do this July, which is Nutrition Month, is to launch the Batang Busog Malusog movement. If children have good nutrition they can focus on their studies,” Gadon said in Filipino.

Gadon said he would encourage big companies to adopt schools in their locations as beneficiaries of the feeding program.

“We’ll ask them to make feeding program a part of their CSR (corporate social responsibility),” he said.

Meanwhile, Gadon said he would also focus on strengthening micro-industries to provide jobs for the poor.

He said China and Taiwan have provided jobs to their residents through small industries.

“My idea is to have micro-industries, similar to the pattern in China and Taiwan where they have a number of micro-industries scattered in their communities that employ 50 to 100 personnel,” Gadon said.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier said stunting among ages zero to 23 months old is 21.6 percent, and 28.7 percent among children under five years old, citing data from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Malnutrition among children in daycare facilities is pegged at 20 percent, Herbosa said.

Marcos recently approved the pilot testing of the food stamp program intended for one million poor families as part of the administration’s efforts to address poverty, malnutrition and hunger.

The program will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development through grants from the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and the French Development Agency.

‘Buffoon’

In an interview on ANC’s “Headstart” on Tuesday, IBON Foundation executive director Sonny Africa called the appointment a “peculiar” choice as Gadon lacked “empathy for the poor” and knowledge on how the economy works.

Africa noted Gadon’s “antipathy” toward stakeholders who push for anti-poverty policies.

“It doesn’t speak well toward the administration’s genuine sincerity in actually addressing poverty in the country,” Africa said.

Africa called Gadon “imminently unqualified,” saying there are better choices than him. He added there are “crumbs” for his loyalty and that it is a “tokenistic” post.

Africa ruled out the move as a boost for a senatorial run for Gadon in 2025. While it keeps him visible, he said Gadon is “damaged goods” given his track record, and “attack dogs” do not handle public posts well either.

“If it appeals to his vanity to be given a public platform, I think that’s the only thing going for this. But otherwise, it does send a very bad sign for the administration about what it means to do to help the economy…the people. They are supposed to be the biggest beneficiaries of the economy,” Africa stressed.

Lawmakers and progressive stakeholders also criticized the appointment. In a statement on Tuesday, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas called the appointment a “clownish” reflection of the administration’s approach to addressing poverty.

She added Gadon’s past controversies instantly disqualifies him to be on the “presidential payroll.”

“Creating a new position at the executive branch and filling it up with the most unqualified person is certainly not a step towards such (a) comprehensive solution,” the lawmaker said.

Last Monday, Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel noted a redundancy with the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). He said while the Marcos administration wants to “rightsize,” questionable personalities fill “redundant high-level posts.”

In a separate statement, former senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu also noted that the post is a consolation for Gadon’s loyalty. He asked whether Gadon knew what caused poverty in the country, or what platforms he got to offer.

“Kung wala siyang ganitong pagsusuri, ang mabubuking lamang ay ang kanyang poverty of philosophy,” Espiritu said on Monday.

Akbayan president Rafaela David called Gadon’s appointment a “new low.” In a statement on Tuesday, she described it the “rock bottom” of political appointments, and is “telling” of the Marcos administration moving forward.

“Not even the President’s late dictator father (Ferdinand Marcos Sr.) will get advice from a buffoon. The rotten apple has certainly fallen far from the fallen tree,” David said.

Like most reactions, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said it was an “insult,” and “Malacañang (is) making a mockery of the people's plight and dire situation.”

For her part, Anakbayan national spokesperson Kate Almenzo said Marcos and Gadon both have “no love” for the poor. She noted it was unlikely Gadon would be helpful given his “disgusting” personality, noting his attitude toward Robles.

“Wala siyang kredibilidad bilang isang tao at tulad ni Marcos Jr. na boss niya, ay tiyak na magtutulak lang ng mga anti-mamamayang batas na nagbabalatkayong makamasa, (Gadon has no credibility as a person and like his boss Marcos Jr., he will surely push for laws that seem to favor the public, but are actually against them),” Almenzo said on Monday.

On Tuesday, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo branded Gadon’s appointment as a big joke.

“Ang pagtalaga sa isang bastos, salaula, at suspendidong abogado na si Larry Gadon ay nagpapakita ng kawalang-seryoso ni Marcos Jr. sa pagresolba sa laganap na kahirapan sa ating bansa (The appointment of a rude, dirty and suspended lawyer like Larry Gadon shows Marcos Jr.’s lack of seriousness to resolve massive poverty in the country),” Arambulo said. – With Helen Flores