A.C. No. 13521 – 943 Phil. 27 – Legal Ethics – Canon II; Propriety – Responsible Use of Social Media – Disrespectful Language – A lawyer may be preventively suspended by the Supreme Court
On December 13, 2021, a video surfaced online showing Atty. Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon directing profane, misogynistic, and offensive language toward journalist Raissa Robles. The Supreme Court, taking cognizance of the incident, issued a Resolution on January 4, 2022, placing Gadon under preventive suspension and ordering him to show cause why he should not be disbarred. The Court noted that Gadon had a history of similar misconduct, including threats against Muslim communities, disrespectful behavior toward former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and her supporters, and making defamatory statements against former President Benigno Aquino III.
ISSUES:
1. Whether Atty. Gadon’s actions warranted disbarment.
2. Whether his preventive suspension was valid.
3. Whether his statements constituted gender-based online sexual harassment under Republic Act No. 11313 (Safe Spaces Act).
HELD:
1. Disbarment: Yes. The Court found that Gadon’s repeated use of vulgar, offensive language, gender-based harassment, and contemptuous behavior violated professional ethics and legal standards, rendering him unfit to continue practicing law.
2. Preventive Suspension: Yes. The Court upheld the preventive suspension, emphasizing the need to maintain public trust in the legal profession.
3. Gender-Based Online Sexual Harassment: Yes. The Court found that Gadon’s statements in the video amounted to prima facie gender-based online sexual harassment under Sections 3(e) and 12 of the Safe Spaces Act.
NOTE: This is an AI-generated case digest
