Case Digest (A.C. No. 13521) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
In In re: Atty. Lorenzo G. Gadon’s Viral Video, Atty. Lorenzo G. Gadon was charged by the Supreme Court En Banc on June 27, 2023, under Section 27, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court after a video of him in a parked car harshly cursing and using profanities against journalist Raissa Robles went viral. In that recording, he repeatedly hurled sexualized insults—“puki ng ina mo,” “putang ina mo,” and “magpakantot ka sa aso”—while challenging Robles’s tax‐evasion allegations against President Marcos. The Court noted his prior public outbursts, including threats against Muslim communities, derogatory remarks and obscene gestures toward a former Chief Justice’s supporters, and malicious radio imputations. Finding prima facie violations of Rule 7.03 of the repealed Code of Professional Responsibility and the Safe Spaces Act (R.A. No. 11313), the Court issued a January 4, 2022 Resolution directing him to show cause, placed him on preventive suspension, and required the IBP and OBC to report Case Digest (A.C. No. 13521) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Initiation of administrative case
- The Supreme Court en banc, pursuant to Section 27, Rule 138 of the Rules of Court, took cognizance of a viral video clip showing Atty. Lorenzo G. Gadon uttering profanities and obscene remarks against journalist Raissa Robles while inside a parked car.
- In a January 4, 2022 Resolution, the Court ordered him to show cause why he should not be disbarred and placed him on preventive suspension.
- Prior misconduct noted by the Court
- Vowed mass violence against Muslim communities if they did not cooperate in anti-insurgency efforts and threatened to exterminate civilians.
- Publicly insulted supporters of former Chief Justice Sereno, flashed his middle finger, and declared indifference to disbarment.
- Made malicious statements during the Sereno impeachment proceedings and falsely imputed that former President Aquino died of HIV.
- Atty. Gadon’s Comment and defenses
- Challenged preventive suspension as violative of due process under Section 15, Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court.
- Alleged singling out compared to other public figures (Sen. De Lima, Atty. Diokno) and moved to inhibit Justices Leonen and Caguioa for alleged bias due to his political ties and past criticisms.
- Detailed a related criminal complaint by Robles (qualified Safe Spaces Act violation, cyber libel, libel) and claimed provocation by Robles’s tweets regarding alleged tax evasion by BBM.
- Stated that the video was private, intended only for Robles, and argued his expletives were expressions of passion, not gender-based harassment.
Issues:
- Disbarment
- Whether Atty. Gadon should be disbarred for conduct unbecoming of a lawyer and violations of the CPRA and Safe Spaces Act.
- Additional issues
- Legality and timing of the preventive suspension.
- Validity of the motion to inhibit Justices Leonen and Caguioa.
- Applicability of gender-based online sexual harassment provisions.
- Whether his accusations against the justices constituted direct contempt.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)