Gadon: I don’t care if I’m disbarred as long as Sereno is removed

The lawyer behind the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday said he does not mind being disbarred as long as Sereno will be ousted.

"I don't care if I am disbarred as long as Sereno is removed," said Lorenzo Gadon, in hot water for publicly cursing and raising his middle finger at a gathering of Sereno supporters in Baguio City, in a statement.

"By then, I would have done a humble service and contribution to the meaningful reform of the judiciary," he added.

Gadon issued the statement after an official of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines said his outburst in Baguio City, which was caught on camera, could be a ground for an ethics complaint.

Gadon had earlier said he does not regret cussing at Sereno's supporters, pointing out that he was "provoked" and that he was only retaliating.

He is already up against at least two disbarment complaints. One for allegedly displaying "disgraceful conduct" at the House justice committee's hearings on his impeachment complaint against Sereno, where he had been accused of committing perjury at least twice, and another due to a controversial remark against Muslims.

He has shrugged off both complaints.

In response to the IBP's reaction to his expletive-laden outburst in Baguio City, where the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the ouster plea against Sereno, Gadon also threatened a disbarment complaint against "any IBP official for supporting" the top magistrate.

"I will also file disbarment case against any IBP official for supporting Sereno. Because their act of support can be considered as abetting the illegal acts of Sereno, they are upholding the violation of the Constitution by Sereno therefore they are also liable for violating the Code of Ethics," he said.

"I dont care if I am disbarred, I wil still eat delicious food and live comfortably, I don't depend on income from lawyering alone unlike some IBP officials."

According to his website, Gadon serves as "management and legal consultant" of companies that range from realty development, food manufacturing, health care, aviation safety, and power generation.

He ran for the Senate in 2016 and lost. In a pre-election interview, he suggested "eradicating" Muslim rebels and killing men, women, and children as a way to peace in Mindanao.

On Wednesday, the pro-Duterte lawyer said he is being urged to run for senator again, but has no final decision yet. —KBK, GMA News