By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon on Wednesday downplayed the contempt complaint filed against him before the Supreme Court (SC) by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio over his statements against the tribunal’s decision on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.
Gadon, who has faced off with the high tribunal in the past, said he and Topacio might as well face off in a karaoke challenge to settle their differences.
“I challenge Atty. Topacio to a one-on-one voice and singing competition, for a cause.” Gadon said in a message to reporters.
“I understand why my friend Atty. Ferdie Topacio had to file a contempt case against me for bluntly telling the truth about the impeachment ruling of the SC. This is his style, creating a lot of noise to attract publicity and attention to himself. Some clients mistake empty noise and rhetoric insults as signs of a brilliant lawyer.”
Gadon said exonerations and acquittals “do not need noise but reason.”
Topacio responded by saying the issue “was no laughing matter.”
In a separate petition, lawyers Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico also asked the SC to cite Richard Heydarian and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña for indirect contempt over their respective statements on the ruling.
Last July 25, the high court ruled that the impeachment complaint had violated the one-year rule ban and thus was unconstitutional. (PNA)
