MANILA — Progressive groups have questioned President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s selection of controversial lawyer Larry Gadon as anti-poverty czar and what programs will be created for the poor.
Former senatorial candidate and current president of the anti-poverty group Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP) Luke Espiritu said the public has a right to know if Gadon has a firm grasp on the causes of poverty and the plans for alleviating it now that he has been appointed to the position.
“Ngayong nagbunga na ang pagdikit ni Gadon sa kusina at namantikaan na siya sa paghirang sa kanya bilang Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation, nararapat lang na hingiin sa kanya ang dalawang bagay. Una, ano ang dahilan ng kahirapan ng masang Pilipino laluna ng mga manggagawa?” Espiritu asked in a statement on Monday night.
(Now that Gadon’s decision to stick close to the kitchen has borne fruit with his designation as a Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation, it is only fitting to ask two things. First, what is the cause of poverty of the Filipino masses, especially the workers?)
“Ikalawa, ano ang mga panukala niyang programa para mapagaan ang kahirapan ng taumbayan, na naka-angkla sa kanyang philosophy on poverty? Kung wala siyang ganitong pagsusuri, ang mabubuking lamang ay ang kanyang poverty of philosophy,” he added.
(Second, what are his proposals for programs that could alleviate the people’s poverty, anchored on his philosophy on poverty? If he does not have these assessments, it would only show his poverty of philosophy.)
Meanwhile, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas called Marcos’ decision a “poor choice,” given Gadon’s past controversies.
Gadon has been involved in several complaints to debar him, most recently after he berated and cursed a female journalist for raising the Marcos family’s unpaid estate taxes.
He also called followers of then-chief justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno as “bobo” (stupid).
According to Brosas, Gadon’s position requires serious and diligent work as many Filipinos remain poor.
“President Marcos Jr.’s appointment of lawyer Larry Gadon, who is known for his vulgar language and disbarment cases, as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation reflects the administration’s clownish approach in addressing hunger and poverty in the country. Gadon is an extremely poor choice for a public position that requires serious and diligent work, especially as more than half of Filipinos rate themselves as poor,” Brosas said on Tuesday.
“A lawyer who once maligned and verbally assaulted a female journalist with misogynist remarks and who has been suspended twice by the Supreme Court for his foul language has no right to be on the presidential payroll. He is also a certified red-tagger, branding those who supported calls for his disbarment as ‘NPA coddler,’” she added.
Brosas further said solving poverty would mean dealing with root causes like landlessness and joblessness nationwide.
“Truly solving poverty requires comprehensively addressing the widespread landlessness and joblessness in the country through genuine land reform and establishment of national industries. Creating a new position at the executive branch and filling it up with the most unqualified person is certainly not a step towards such a comprehensive solution,” she claimed.
On Monday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that Marcos had appointed Gadon to the said position. In this post, Gadon will work closely with government agencies and non-government organizations to address the roots of poverty.
“President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed lawyer Lorenzo ‘Larry’ G. Gadon as Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation. His appointment reflects the government’s commitment to addressing one of the most pressing challenges faced by our nation,” PCO said in a statement. (Gabriel Pabico Lalu © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
