Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 28) — The disbarment of newly-appointed antipoverty czar Larry Gadon will not affect his role as presidential adviser, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Wednesday.
In a statement, Bersamin said the chief executive was aware of the cases filed against Gadon, but “felt that his work as presidential adviser will not get affected by his status as a lawyer.”
He said it is a matter which Gadon will have to personally attend to.
\”He will continue on his new role as Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation as there are urgent matters that need to be done in the President’s anti-poverty programs,\” Bersamin said.
\”The President believes he will do a good job,\” he added.
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision to disbar Gadon. It cited the viral video clip showing the government official’s “misogynistic, sexist, abusive, and repetitive intemperate language” against journalist Raissa Robles.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Gadon said such a decision will not affect his new role in the Marcos administration.
“The position does not require a lawyer, and it has nothing about legal matters and legal issues,\” he said.
\”This is poverty alleviation and the programs that will be created by the government is about poverty alleviation so therefore, that decision does not matter,” he added.
Gadon also said he hardly felt the decision, noting that he has not been practicing law since 2015 after getting involved in politics.
He said he has yet to speak with the president regarding the matter.
Discussions on the issue between Gadon and Marcos may be done after the former’s oath taking next week, Gadon added.
With his new role, Gadon said he wants to initiate programs that will generate jobs for depressed and far-flung areas.
