The Gabriela Women’s Partylist on Saturday, Dec. 18 joined the call for the Supreme Court to disbar lawyer Larry Gadon for his alleged “sexist gutter language” hurled against journalist Raissa Robles.
Gadon, a senatorial aspirant representing the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, responded by denouncing Gabriela as a “communist organization” that supports the “terrorist NPA” (New Peoples’ Army).
“They do not condemn the killing of our soldiers and innocent civilians. Gabriela is composed of hypocrite individuals that promote distrust of democratic systems,” said Gadon as he described the women's group an 'NPA coddler.'
In a statement, Gabriela described Gadon as a “rabid Duterte and Marcos defender”.
They decried Gadon’s statement in a video uploaded in social media wherein he chided Robles who tweeted alleged tax offense conviction of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. that has not yet been revealed to the public.
Gadon was apparently infuriated by Robles’ criticism against Marcos that he released a video verbally attacking the journalist.
Various journalists organizations, including the Foreign Correspondents Association, have assailed the lawyer’s actions.
“Gadon's speech, which was loaded with profanities and misogynistic remarks, is a dangerous incitement of hate and violence towards Robles in a lame attempt to dispute the reportage on Marcos Jr. failure to file income tax returns,” said Gabriela in a statement.
“To consider this as protected speech is to condone the impunity by which the Duterte regime has publicly looked down and insulted Filipino women,” the women’s rights group added.
The group, represented in Congress by Rep. Arlene Brosas, joined the call for the disbarment of Gadon, saying that “we should no logner tolerated such kind of barbaric behavior which tarnishes the legal profession.” Gadon had complained that Facebook has been very lenient to groups highly critical of Marcos. He noted that whenever supporters of Marcos post criticisms against anti-Marcos forces, they are warned of being suspended from FB for violating “community standards” set by the social media giant.