Larry Gadon suspended by SC over viral video containing profanities

The Supreme Court has ordered the preventive suspension of Atty. Larry Gadon over a viral video in which he hurled profanities against journalist Raissa Robles.

According to the SC Public Information Office, Gadon's preventive suspension is effective immediately and will last until lifted by the court.

The SC also told Gadon to show cause why he should not be disbarred in connection with the viral video. In a resolution issued on Tuesday, he was given 10 days to file his comment.

Gadon's video on December 15, 2021 went viral. He appeared furious at Robles after the latter called presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.  a tax evader.

Marcos was convicted by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court 105 in 1995 for failure to file his income tax returns for taxable years 1982 to 1985 and for the latter’s failure to pay the corresponding deficiency taxes.

His camp has since produced a certification from the Bureau of Internal Revenue indicating that he had settled his tax deficiencies.

Following Gadon's rant, the public called on the SC as well as the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to discipline Gadon over his latest rant in social media. The public said Gadon's action was an insult to Robles and to the legal profession as well.

The court treated the matter as a formal disbarment complaint against the lawyer in consideration of the previous controversies involving Gadon.

Meanwhile, the High Tribunal also directed the Office of the Bar Confidant to submit an updated list of the pending administrative cases against Gadon within ten days upon receipt of the Court En Banc's resolution.

Further, the IBP was also tasked to submit a status report of the administrative cases lodged against the controversial lawyer who is eyeing a Senate seat in the 2022 elections.

Gadon was penalized with a three-month suspension by the SC due to a disbarment case in 2019.

The case stemmed from the statements he made about the use of legal remedies as slow and requiring a lot of resources and the malicious words he used against the adverse party.

Gadon on Tuesday night said the SC had imposed the suspension on him "without due process."

He also said the suspension may have been politically motivated. —NB/KG, GMA News