With the suspension – not just once – of controversial lawyer Larry Gadon who was later disbarred by the Supreme Court’s 15-0 decision, professors have regrets. With due respect to the power to appoint, they hoped the appointing President would have at least waited to see if Gadon’s suspension would be lifted or lead to disbarment.
Regret is an understatement. The appointment is unethical, out of place, and ridiculous.
The role of presidential adviser on poverty alleviation given to Gadon is “tokenistic,” said Sonny Africa, adding that “it doesn’t speak well of the administration’s genuine sincerity in actually addressing poverty in the country.”
Batang Busog, Malusog (BBM), a nutrition program, will be pushed by the presidential adviser without elaborating despite generous media interviews and open communication lines. He lashed out even at SC justices who, according to him wronged him and just listened to the complaints against him.
Are the mandates of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, and of course, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) clear to Gadon? He was quick to point out his wide experience in the private sector.
Never did Gadon discuss the constitutional provision on the State’s duty to “free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life” (Sec. 9, Art. II, 1987 Constitution) among others, but he had time to bring in the discussion table his operational standards toward people who “should have thanked him” that they were still alive. “Pasalamat nga sila, hindi ko sila pinapatay,” he said last June 27. As for who deserves profanities, for sure he also has a ready standard and explanation.
Would the new appointment rather be a presidential adviser on poverty aggravation? To be exact, said a colleague and former ambassador, that’s “poverty aggravation and wealth accumulation.” One reacted by drawing attention to Gadon’s “mental poverty so he should be alleviated first.”
On regrets or panghihinayang: In view of judicial clemency and the wisdom of second chances, the High Court reduced some disbarment cases to years of suspension which means they can practice their legal profession once again. But the appointing power of the president elected only last year mired and wasted that better option for Gadon and his loved ones.
And for those trusting that Gadon is senatoriable – 1 million votes (4%), 3 million votes (7%), and 9 million votes (17%) in 2016, 2019, and 2022 elections – add some 10% in 2025 and his votes will have it. The word of the High Court does not matter. Walang talab. The important thing is that napag-uusapan siya. Ngayon pang “may tiwala” sa kanya si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa kabila ng lahat?
Economists and academicians are one in saying that the long-time Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Arsenio Balisacan is the best anti-poverty czar. No one among them agreed to the new role of Gadon right at the doorstep of Malacañang Palace, which leads many other experts to question the Marcos administration’s lack of seriousness and sense of urgency in freeing the people from poverty or at least educating themselves on what a Marcos presidency means for sustainable development goals (SDGs) for Filipinos and the Philippines.
At this point, we need to remind ourselves first – our political leaders second – “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psalm 1:1)
Gadon is set to file a motion for reconsideration before the High Court, hoping he gets his license to practice law back. Judging from numerous SC decisions favoring disbarred/suspended lawyers, he is precisely not one of them. Walang maniniwalang nagbago na siya agad-agad.
And with his mental poverty, who badly needs his advice on poverty alleviation? Assuming (read: nakakabobo nga) he is badly needed, should he be paid by taxpayers or by Marcos alone? It is not about his being the go-to guy of the President, the Executive Secretary, and men in Malacañang. It is about this (from the flawless words of another colleague): “Gustong makabayad kay Gadon sa kasisipsip sa mga Marcos.” Trolls, meanwhile, continue to feel some stability as their work these days mounts. What a start of job generation intentions for the new President’s adviser.
In terms of education and communication studies, as imparted by Stephen Covey, people are listening to the appointment matter. The problem is that they are listening not to understand, but to answer or sagot sagutin.
DC Alviar
Professor DC Alviar serves as a member of the steering committee of the Philippine International Studies Organization (PHISO). He was part of National University’s community extension project that imparted the five disciplines of a learning organization (Senge, 1990) to communities in a local government unit. He writes and edits local reports for Mega Scene. He graduated with a master’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines Open University in Los Baños. He recently defended a dissertation proposal for his doctorate degree in communication at the same graduate school under a Philippine government scholarship grant. He was editor-in-chief of his high school paper Ang Ugat and the Adamson News.
