Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon challenged Senator Risa Hontiveros to a "friendly debate" so they can measure each others' "quality of intelligence". Speaking before the media on Wednesday, Gadon extended his invitation to Hontiveros after the senator asked President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to reconsider Gadon's appointment as anti-poverty czar following his disbarment by the Supreme Court due to his "indisputably scandalous" acts. He also called on Hontiveros to run and win the presidency first so she will have the power to appoint and remove people to and from government posts. "Sinasabi nya yung qualification ko raw (She's questioning my qualification), I would like to have a friendly debate with her, an exchange of ideas so we can measure our quality of intelligence," Gadon said. "Iparating nyo sa kanya (Let her know)... so that we can compare notes kung sino mas may nalalaman samin (if who has more knowledge between us)," he added. Gadon also dismissed the idea that it was political accommodation that prompted him to accept the role as presidential adviser. He confidently said he had the talent, the skill and the capability to help the President and to serve the public. "You can say this is a political accommodation if I am totally unequipped with skills or capability. Pero yan naman napatunayan natin yan sa larangan ng business at corporate world na tayo ay may nalalaman (But I already proved myself in the business industry and the corporate world that I am knowledgeable)," he added.