Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon is facing an indirect contempt petition before the Supreme Court after he publicly criticized the court’s recent ruling on impeachment cases against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Atty. Ferdinand Topacio filed the verified petition last Tuesday, accusing Gadon of attacking the integrity of the Supreme Court during a 28 July media interview, shortly after the president’s State of the Nation Address.
The presidential adviser allegedly accused the Supreme Court of being a political ally of the Duterte family following its 25 July decision, which declared the impeachment complaints against the vice president unconstitutional.
News reports quoted Gadon as calling the High Court a “tuta ng mga Duterte” and directed the same accusation toward Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo.
Topacio, who filed the special civil action as a taxpayer and member of the Philippine Bar, cited Rule 71 of the Rules of Court. He argued that Gadon’s public remarks were “grossly disrespectful,” “undermined public confidence in the judiciary,” and were particularly serious given Gadon’s position as a Cabinet-level official.
“These are not mere expressions of personal opinion,” Topacio wrote in the petition. “These constitute improper conduct tending to degrade the administration of justice and cast suspicion on the integrity of the judiciary.”
The petition referenced past rulings that penalized individuals for public behavior deemed to erode faith in the judicial system.
Topacio submitted video clips and news articles containing Gadon’s controversial remarks as evidence.