MANILA, Philippines —The Marcos-era Kilusang Bagong Lipunan has nominated lawyer Larry Gadon, who initiated impeachment proceedings against ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, as a candidate for senator, he announced Friday in a media forum that he moderates.
Gadon, who has become the subject of online memes for cursing out Sereno supporters during oral arguments in Baguio City on a related quo warranto petition against her, also made the announcement on a Viber group he created.
According to a report by state-run PTV, which covered the event, Gadon said he will push for bills that will help the economy. The statement comes on the same week as the Philippine Statistics Authority announcing that inflation in August reached a new nine-year high.
"I-revisit ang TRAIN Law para makita ang iba pang improvements na dapat gawin dito (We will revisit the TRAIN to see if there are other improvements that can be done)," he also said in the PTV report.
The TRAIN Law, which lowered income taxes but also increased excise taxes on "sin" products and introduced excise taxes on fuel products, has been blamed for rising prices. Government economic managers have maintained, however, that the TRAIN Law is not the only factor in the price hikes.
Gadon's impeachment complaint — a supposedly air-tight case with allegations that Gadon at times struggled at House hearings to substantiate — was rendered moot after the Supreme Court voted in May to rule that Sereno's appointment in 2012 was invalid from the start.
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Peter Tiu Laviña, President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign manager and former National Irrigation Authority chief, also posted photos of the event.
Laviña resigned from the NIA in late February 2017, citing his health. In early March, Duterte mentioned in a speech that he had told a "close associate" to resign over allegations of corruption. Although he did not name the official, only Laviña had resigned in recent days.
2016 senatorial run
Gadon ran for senator under KBL in the 2016 polls.
During the election campaign, he questioned the heroism of the late Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr., whom he has called a traitor. He said Aquino faked the Jabidah Massacre, a killing that left deep wounds among the Bangsamoro, to foil ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos' plan to invade Sabah.
"Hindi. Hindi totoo yung (Jabidah Massacre)," he said in a televised GMA News interview in 2016.
He wants Aquino removed from the P500 bill and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, where the senator was assassinated in 1983, renamed to Manila International Airport.
Also in 2016, he said he would kill the entire Moro International Liberation Front, a rebel group that had by then signed a peace agreement with the government, if they refuse his pleas not to launch attacks.
"Sampung beses akong luluhod sa (MILF), iiyak ako ng bato at dugo, kapag labing-isang pagkakataon at tumanggi pa rin sila, lulusubin ko sila doon at dadalhin ko ang buong sandatahang Pilipinas at papatayin ko silang lahat, susunugin ko ang bahay nila. Burahin ang lahi nila, kahit masunog ang kaluluwa ko sa impiyerno gagawin ko 'yan," Gadon said then.
(I will kneel before them ten times and ask them not to cause trouble, I will weep stones and blood. If, at the eleventh time, they still refuse, I will invade them with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and kille them all, I will burn their house. I will wipe out their clans. Even if my soul will burn in hell for it, I will do it.)
Before running for senator in 2016, Gadon was a lawyer for Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now speaker of the House.
Gadon is also an endorser for local shampoo and coffee brands. — Jonathan de Santos