Larry Gadon is a lawyer known for his involvement in numerous high-profile cases and controversial conduct.
He filed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno which led to her ouster in May 2018 and was among the counsels of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prior to 2016. He also assisted the complainant in a failed impeachment charge against Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in December 2020.
He is a long-time supporter of the late dictator and former President Ferdinand Marcos, presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and other members of the Marcos family. He has defended the imposition of Martial Law by the elder Marcos and denied that the Marcos family and cronies amassed ill-gotten wealth while they were in power.
Gadon is likewise allied with President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, vice-presidential candidate Sara Duterte, representing key figures involved in controversies linked to the Duterte family and heading the Pro-Duterte Constitutional Reformers to Federalism group.
On Jan. 4, 2022, the Supreme Court preventively suspended Gadon from practicing law, following a profanity- and insult-filled video rant against journalist Raissa Robles, which the SC deemed to be a repeated violation despite several warnings when Gadon was suspended in 2019. Gadon is also facing at least four disbarment cases arising from other controversial incidents.
Early this year, he praised the grant of right to use the broadcast frequency Channel 43 to Sonshine Media Network International (or Sawra Sug Media Corp.), a broadcast company owned by Davao-based Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a close-confidant and so-called spiritual adviser of President Duterte, who was indicted in the US for sex trafficking and other charges. An investigative report published by Rappler also found that Quiboloy’s SMNI fuels online disinformation and attacks against journalists and activists.
Channel 43 had been assigned to Amcara Broadcasting Corp. but was recently used by ABS-CBN for its TVPlus channels under a block-time agreement. In 2020, Gadon unsuccessfully petitioned the SC to stop the National Telecommunications Commission from acting on a request for the grant of a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
Gadon previously ran for senator in 2016 and 2019 but failed to reach the top 12, garnering 3,487,780 votes and placing 28th out of 62 aspirants in 2019. He is currently campaigning on passing constitutional reforms in political and economic systems, modernization of infrastructure, increased support for the agricultural sector and improvement of the public health system, among other issues. He is running under the senatorial line-up of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, a tandem recently endorsed by Quiboloy.
“Ako ay tumatakbo bilang senador upang masusugan na mapalitan ang Konstitusyon sapagkat ‘yang Konstitusyon na ‘yan ang sumisikil sa ating pag-unlad kaya sana ay samahan niyo ‘ko.”
LORENZO “LARRY” GACILO GADON
Full Name: Lorenzo Gacilo Gadon
Nickname: Larry
Birthday: March 1, 1958 (Age 66)
Birthplace: Roxas, Oriental Mindoro
Residence: Quezon City, Metro Manila
Languages Spoken: Filipino, English
Spouse: Bernadette Gadon
Children: Alarice Gadon, 36, eldest daughter, nominee of UFCC (United Filipino Consumers and Commuters) Partylist
Profession/Occupation: Lawyer
EDUCATION
- Admitted to the Bar, 1993
- Bachelor of Law, Far Eastern University
- Bachelor of Commerce, Far Eastern University
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Administrator, Perpetual Help Hospital Manila
- Director, Human Resources, University of Santo Tomas Hospital
- Vice-President, Administration, Ambulatory Health Care Institute Inc.
- Manager, Human Resources, Stork Products Philippines
- Manager, Human Resources, Concepts Group of Companies
- Legal Associate, Antonio H. Abad Law Offices
- Corporate Counsel, Phoenix Sun International Corp.
- Corporate Counsel, Gateway Network Solutions, Inc.
- Corporate Counsel, MCT Food Corporation
- Corporate Counsel, BSJ Trading and Fishing Corp.
- Corporate Counsel, Acuatico Resort and Acuaverde Resort
- Corporate Counsel, Willrock Prime Venue Corp.
- Corporate Counsel, Willy’s Beach Hotel and Resort Boracay
- Corporate Counsel, Grazielle Manufacturing Corporation
- Corporate Counsel, 3D Networks
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Private Sector
Gadon’s private legal practice reached prominence when he became part of President Arroyo’s legal team and de facto spokesperson in the early 2010s. He was also involved in prominent legal cases especially against critics or alleged opponents of the Duterte administration.
Gadon, however, has failed to attend mandatory continuing legal education seminars for lawyers over the past 10 years, according to a Supreme Court certification issued on Oct. 2, 2019. His last compliance was on May 25, 2009 for the period from April 2001 to April 2004 and valid only until April 2007, in violation of the seminar requirement every three years. Lawyers who fail to comply shall pay a non-compliance fee at the end of the compliance period; failure to justify non-compliance results in being listed as a delinquent member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and subject to its disciplinary powers.
Gadon excused his non-compliance by claiming to be too busy to attend MCLE classes but insisted that he is not prohibited from practicing law, only from signing a pleading. However, he signed a motion he filed on behalf of client Peter Joemel “Bikoy” Advincula in September 2019 as assisting counsel, not indicating the requisite MCLE compliance details. While Gadon said that he will just pay the fines imposed by the SC, if any, additional penalties may be imposed including listing the offending lawyer as a delinquent member of the Bar and ordering discharge from the case.
Gadon has faced several complaints over his conduct as a lawyer, including at least four disbarment cases. He was preventively suspended from practicing law by the SC on Jan. 4, 2022, following a profanity- and insult-filled video rant against journalist Robles. On Feb. 8, 2022, Robles filed a complaint-affidavit before the QC Prosecutor’s Office accusing Gadon of violating the Safe Spaces Act and committing libel and cyber libel over the same viral video.
Gadon has faced several complaints over his conduct as a lawyer, including at least four disbarment cases. He was preventively suspended from practicing law by the SC on Jan. 4, 2022, following a profanity- and insult-filled video rant against journalist Robles. On Feb. 8, 2022, Robles filed a complaint-affidavit before the QC Prosecutor’s Office accusing Gadon of violating the Safe Spaces Act and committing libel and cyber libel over the same viral video.
Gadon ran unsuccessful campaigns for senator in 2016 and 2019 and has remained in the private sector.
