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Advocates Philippines
Gadon Accuses Supreme Court Of Due Process Violation
Photo credit: Atty. Larry Gadon
The Supreme Court En Banc has found previously disbarred Lorenzo G. Gadon guilty of gross misconduct for committing perjury and making accusations based on hearsay. This decision follows a complaint filed before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) regarding falsehoods in an impeachment complaint Gadon had filed against former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before the House of Representatives (HOR).
Gadon was also accused of filing baseless criminal cases against several Supreme Court officials. After investigation, the IBP's Committee on Bar Discipline recommended a two-year suspension for Gadon. The IBP Board of Governors (IBP-BOG) later extended this to three years.
The Supreme Court adopted the IBP-BOG's findings but increased the penalty to disbarment, noting Gadon had already been disbarred previously. Instead, the new penalty will be recorded in his file, along with a PHP 150,000 fine and ineligibility for judicial clemency.
The Court found Gadon guilty of perjury for making allegations in his impeachment complaint without personal knowledge or authentic records. This action was intended to harm Sereno's reputation, indicating a malicious intent. The Court stressed that the verification requirement in impeachment complaints is essential to respect the process, which Gadon violated.
Gadon responded by accusing the Supreme Court of violating due process. He claimed he was not given a chance to explain himself before the decision and alleged the ruling was hastily made following his recent political statements. Gadon defended his allegations against Sereno by citing former Chief Justice Teresita de Castro's testimony in the House of Representatives, asserting that the forged TRO issue was a matter of public record and judicial notice.
"The Supreme Court violated the basic principle of due process. Hindi naman nila ako pina-explain. Hindi naman nila ako binigyan ng kahit ano mang notice. Basta na lamang right after mag-issue ako ng statement na si Sara hindi mananalo sa 2028. Meron na agad silang desisyon. Kaya nagkamali-mali sila because they did it in the most hastily manner. Binigla lang nila," Gadon stated.
He further argued that public records and media coverage substantiated his claims about the TRO, challenging the Court's assertion that he lacked personal knowledge.
The Supreme Court Public Information Office will release a copy of the Resolution in A.C. No. 13842 (Garrido, Jr. v. Gadon) upon receiving it from the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc.
Gadon was also accused of filing baseless criminal cases against several Supreme Court officials. After investigation, the IBP's Committee on Bar Discipline recommended a two-year suspension for Gadon. The IBP Board of Governors (IBP-BOG) later extended this to three years.
The Supreme Court adopted the IBP-BOG's findings but increased the penalty to disbarment, noting Gadon had already been disbarred previously. Instead, the new penalty will be recorded in his file, along with a PHP 150,000 fine and ineligibility for judicial clemency.
The Court found Gadon guilty of perjury for making allegations in his impeachment complaint without personal knowledge or authentic records. This action was intended to harm Sereno's reputation, indicating a malicious intent. The Court stressed that the verification requirement in impeachment complaints is essential to respect the process, which Gadon violated.
Gadon responded by accusing the Supreme Court of violating due process. He claimed he was not given a chance to explain himself before the decision and alleged the ruling was hastily made following his recent political statements. Gadon defended his allegations against Sereno by citing former Chief Justice Teresita de Castro's testimony in the House of Representatives, asserting that the forged TRO issue was a matter of public record and judicial notice.
"The Supreme Court violated the basic principle of due process. Hindi naman nila ako pina-explain. Hindi naman nila ako binigyan ng kahit ano mang notice. Basta na lamang right after mag-issue ako ng statement na si Sara hindi mananalo sa 2028. Meron na agad silang desisyon. Kaya nagkamali-mali sila because they did it in the most hastily manner. Binigla lang nila," Gadon stated.
He further argued that public records and media coverage substantiated his claims about the TRO, challenging the Court's assertion that he lacked personal knowledge.
The Supreme Court Public Information Office will release a copy of the Resolution in A.C. No. 13842 (Garrido, Jr. v. Gadon) upon receiving it from the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc.
May 24, 2024
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