Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon came to the defense of President Marcos, saying the latter is not addicted to illegal drugs but is addicted to working and to his love for the Philippines.

Gadon said this after former president Rodrigo Duterte accused Marcos of being a drug addict and claimed that he was included in the watch list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

In a Facebook post, Gadon belied Duterte's wild accusations, saying Marcos is only an addict when it comes to his work.

"Si Presidente Bongbong Marcos ay isang adik sa pagmamahal sa bayan. Isang adik sa pagtatrabaho. Napakaganda ng kanyang pamamahala (President Marcos is addicted to his love for the country. He is addited to his work. His governance is commendable)," he said.

"Si Presidente Bongbong marcos ay hindi adik. Nagsalita na ang PDEA na wala sa listahan ng mga suspects ng drug users ang pangalan ni Presidente Bongbong Marcos kahit noon pa man hanggang ngayon (President Marcos is not a drug addict. The PDEA already said that he was not in its list of drug users)," he added.

In a statement, Gadon said it was not right for former president Duterte to make such an allegation as it jeopardizes the people and the country.

"Hindi dapat idamay ang kinabukasan ng bansa, ang kinabukasan ng mga Pilipino, sa hidwaan sa politika (They should not bring the people and the country's future into their political rivalry)," he said, referring to the Dutertes and the Marcoses.

The controversial lawyer, instead, urged Filipinos to keep their faith in President Marcos, citing the progress the country has achieved under his watch.

"Tayo ay manalig at umasa sa mas mabuting pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pamamahala ni Presidente Bongbong Marcos (Let us trust and rely on a good government under President Marcos' leadership)," Gadon said in his video.

"Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa loob ng 18 taon ay tumaas ang ating employment rate ng 95.8 percent at nagkaroon tayo ng increase ng palay production ng 300,000 metric tons ngayon sa kanyang pamamahala (For the first time in 18 years, our employment rate rose to 95.8 percent and our palay production climed to 300,000 metric tons under his watch)," he added.

Regarding the economy, Gadon said that the inflation rate went down to 3.9 percent in December 2023 and that foreign investors are looking into opening businesses in the country.

"Kaya tayo ngayon ay maganda ang tinatahak tungo sa pag-unlad sa Bagong Pilipinas (That's why we are now heading towards progress in a New Philippines)," he said.