In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the disbarment of lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon for “misogynistic, sexist, abusive and repeated intemperate language.”
Gadon had earlier been appointed as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation.
In a statement, Gadon said: “I will treat this matter as a personal concern as it will not also affect my commitment to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help his administration achieve its goals and implement its programs to serve the public, particularly on the aspect of poverty alleviation.”
The SC’s public information office (PIO), in a press statement, said the disbarment of Gadon was ordered by all 15 justices “for the viral video clip where he repeatedly cursed and uttered profane remarks against journalist Raissa Robles.”
The SC, on its own, initiated the disbarment proceedings. It had earlier issued an order of preventive suspension from the practice of law against Gadon pending its decision on the case.
A copy of the SC decision or resolution promulgated on June 27 was not given by the PIO. It has not been uploaded in the SC website as of posting.
In its ruling, the PIO said the SC found the video clip as “indisputably scandalous that it discredits the legal profession.”
It said the SC cited Gadon “for violating Canon II on Propriety, of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, which imposes the standard that ‘[a] lawyer shall, at all times, act with propriety and maintain the appearance of propriety in personal and professional dealings, observe honesty, respect and courtesy, and uphold the dignity of the legal profession consistent with the highest standards of ethical behavior.’”
“Gadon unfortunately failed to realize that lawyers are expected to avoid scandalous behavior, whether in their public or private life,” the PIO said apparently quoting from the ruling.
It said that “Gadon has been previously convicted by the Court and suspended from the practice of law for three months for similarly using offensive and intemperate language, and was warned that a repetition of the same offense will merit a more severe sanction.”
It also said “there are six other administrative cases pending before the Office of the Bar Confidant against Gadon, and four before the Commission on Bar Discipline of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.”
The PIO said the SC concluded: “Although these cases have yet to be decided, the volume of administrative complaints filed against Atty. Gadon indubitably speaks of his character.”
At the same time, the PIO said the SC “cited Gadon in direct contempt of court for his baseless allegations of partiality and bias against Senior Associate Justice Marvic MVF Leonen and Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.”
Gadon sought to inhibit the two Justices from acting on the case “on grounds which the SC found to be purely conjecture,” it said.
It said the SC reminded lawyers: “The privilege to practice law is bestowed only upon individuals who are competent intellectually, academically and, equally important, morally. There is no room in this noble profession for misogyny and sexism. The Court will never tolerate abuse, in whatever form, especially when perpetrated by an officer of the court.”