Group mulls disbarment suit vs. Gadon for ‘maliciously imputing’ PNoy had HIV

HIV advocacy group The Red Whistle on Friday said it is looking into filing a disbarment complaint and criminal charges against lawyer Larry Gadon after he insinuated that President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III had HIV.

During his radio show Karambola on Thursday, Gadon said that Aquino was unable to recover from his illness due to HIV.

“The Red Whistle strongly condemns in unequivocal terms a statement made by Atty. Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon, maliciously imputing that former President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III had HIV, in violation of Republic Act No. 11166 or the Philippine HIV Policy Act,” it said in a statement.

Aquino passed away on Thursday morning due to renal disease secondary to diabetes. He was 61 years old.

The group cited section 44 of RA 11166 that guarantees the confidentiality and privacy of HIV-related information including the fact of HIV testing, actual, perceived, or suspected HIV infection, and treatment.

Violators may be imprisoned for up to five years and fined up to P350,000.

“As a lawyer, Atty. Gadon violated Rule 1.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility, which holds that “A lawyer shall not engage in unlawful, dishonest, immoral, or deceitful conduct,” it said.

“Statements laced with malice like the one made by Atty. Gadon fuel HIV-related stigma and discrimination and offer no help in addressing the HIV epidemic in the country, which has the fastest rising number of new infections in the world,” it added.

GMA News Online has sought Gadon for comment but has yet to respond as of posting time. —LDF, GMA News