More than quotes: Media hit Gadon’s remarks with real numbers

CHEERS TO media reports that quickly debunked the remarks made by anti-poverty Czar Larry Gadon, citing government agencies and experts to provide correct data regarding poverty in the country. 

Online reports from ABS-CBN News, Inquirer.net, GMA Integrated News, and News5 quoted what Gadon said in his PTV-4’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on May 17: “Sana ang ating mga kababayan ay patuloy na suportahan ang Marcos administration, sapagkat sa totoo lang iyong mga nagsasabi ng napakahirap ng buhay ay sila lang ang nagsasabi niyan, haka-haka lang nila iyan.” (I hope more Filipinos support the Marcos administration. Because the truth is, those that say that life is hard, these are only their imagination.) He added that crowded malls, filled fast food chains, and traffic caused by cars show Filipinos’ high purchasing power. 

The media above cited data from the Philippine Statistics Authority that present a contrasting picture. ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol interviewed economist Randy Tuaño, Dean of Ateneo School of Government, and ordinary people on the street who all noted rising costs of food and rent, agreeing on the reality of poverty.  

Inquirer.net’s Kurt Dela Pena cited more sources – The Hunger Project, a New York-based NGO, and Dr. Teodoro Mendoza, a crop scientist. The NGO said that poverty, food prices, and hunger are “inextricably linked,” while Mendoza pointed out that more than a problem, hunger “is the consequence and failure of industrial farming that increased food prices, hunger, social inequalities, and environmental disasters.”

Another interview, another outburst?

On May 20, Gadon had another interview on Teleradyo. “‘Yung ibang nagrereklamo, para sa kanila, haka-haka lang yang kahirapang kanilang dinadanas,” he said, repeating that he is referring to frequent cafe-goers. Anchor Noli de Castro answered him and asked, “Secretary, sino namang magkakape sa starbucks kung hindi nakakabili ng bigas?” (Secretary, who would buy coffee in Starbucks if they can’t buy rice?) He also clarified that more people can’t afford branded coffee, questioning Gadon’s comparison, “mali ata comparison niyo.”

On the same date but in another program on Teleradyo, Gadon was not done with his clarifications and expressed anger at ABS-CBN which he claimed was twisting his words. He said that ABS-CBN should be burned down and even told the anchor to find another media company instead of ABS-CBN. 

Gadon added that only ABS-CBN said that poverty is imaginary or ‘haka-haka.’ But as noted above, CMFR found other news outlets that quoted him even earlier than ABS-CBN. 

New ruling, TV show

On May 23, the Supreme Court found Gadon guilty of perjury and fined him PHP 150,000 for committing “falsehoods” in his impeachment complaint against former de facto Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. As he was already disbarred in June 2023 for his use of profanities against a journalist, the Supreme Court ruled him ineligible for “judicial clemency,” which Rappler, The Philippine Star, and Manila Standard explained means he could never retrieve his lawyer title. 

However, the disgraced Gadon announced the airing of his new TV show, ‘Larry Gadon Live’ on PTV-4 weekly starting May 29. The show, Gadon said, will help disseminate information about government programs and accomplishments, as well as other ‘trending topics.’ Inquirer in its report noted that the Presidential Communications Office did not reply to its queries regarding Gadon’s effectivity as a “messenger” given the repeated sanctions from the High Court.

It is disturbing that someone like Gadon should continue to get media time and space, given his notoriety and pronounced hostility against some journalists. The Marcos administration made him anti-poverty Czar only to share the well-deserved criticism of Gadon’s remarks about the state of poverty. Nevertheless, he has been given a TV show on government broadcasting which ensures his continued media presence. Is the administration clueless about how the public perceives Gadon? 

Media did well to point out the falsehood of his statements about poverty. It could have followed up by asking about the point of giving him space in a government station. PTV-4 may not be a great news outlet, but in many remote areas in the country, government news or propaganda may be all that Filipinos have as news. 

Alas, media must now continue to track more of Gadon’s folly, which apparently receives the Palace’s favor and approval.