Gadon calls Ninoy a traitor, wants NAIA to get back old name

The lawyer who filed an impeachment complaint against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has asked Malacañang, the Senate and House of Representatives to revert the Ninoy Aquino International Airport  back to its old name.

According to Larry Gadon, the late Senator Benigno Aquino Jr. was a liar and a traitor who helped organize the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People's Army in the late 1960s.

"Maraming katraydoran na ginawa si Ninoy, kaya hindi siya dapat tawaging bayani, siya ay isang huwad na bayani. Si Ninoy ay isang traydor sa bayan," Gadon said at a news conference on Friday.

Sought for comment, the camp of former President Benigno Aquino III said it was obvious that Gadon's initiative was an attempt to revise history.

"It is the prerogative on Congress to name that airport as they see fit. It would be a shame to do so based on the whims of someone who is obviously attempting to revise history for their own twisted gain," former presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte told GMA News Online.

READ: Isinumite na ni Atty. Larry Gadon sa Office of the President at sa Kongreso ang petisyon para ibalik sa Manila Int'l Airport ang pangalang Ninoy Aquino Int'l Airport; hindi aniya bayani si Ninoy kundi isang traydor. | via @glenjuego pic.twitter.com/SwfbUMhXR6

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 25, 2018

Gadon said at a media forum at Nanka Restaurant in Quezon City that he believes the lower house and even members of the Senate will agree with his petition.

"Ako ay naniniwala na yung mga kongresista at Senado ay papayag dito sa aking petisyon sapagkat ito naman ay makatwiran," Gadon said.

He said the petition was submitted to the Office of the President on May 8.

Gadon based his petition on the Revised Guidelines on the Naming and Renaming of Streets, Public Schools, Plazas, Building, Bridges and other Public Structures.

The lawyer's stand was based on the provision that no public place may be renamed or named after a person within 10 years of his death.

"Pangalawa, walang dahilan na palitan ito ng pangalan ni Ninoy sapagkat yung Manila International Airport, 'yan ang premier gateway ng Philippines sa buong mundo," he defended, adding that Aquino was never elected to presidency.

According to the guidelines, this rule may be passed over only for "highly exceptional reasons,"e.g. his death was due to assassination in the service of the country, he/she gave exceptional service to the nation, death while trying to save others, death was a result of his patriotism, and death while in performance of one’s duty."

The lawyer in his petition accused Aquino of faking the 1968 Jabidah massacre of Moro soldiers by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Gadon also accused Aquino of helping communist and guerrilla armies reassemble, and of purposefully not attending the Liberal Party rally in Plaza Miranda in 1971.

Gadon a nuisance

Akbayan spokesperson Gio Tingson, in a statement, said Gadon's petition to rename NAIA further proved his role as an agitator in light of previous stunts Gadon has pulled.

Among the stunts Tingson cited were Gadon's run as a "nuisance candidate" in the Senate polls, his claim that he will commit genocide in Mindanao if he succeeded in his campaign, impeachment complaint against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, and conduct in front of the camera.

"Matagal nang malinaw ang papel ni Gadon sa Administrasyong ito," Tingson said,  adding, "Kitang-kita na siya ay isang dakilang panggulo lamang."

"Kung seseryosohin ng pamahalaang ito ang anumang galaw niya, halata na ang kanilang plano-- hatiin ang sambayanan at sirain ang kasaysayan," he added. —NB, GMA News