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Gadon clarifies Duterte not related to Sereno case
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte interacts with the guests during the inauguration of the Lisap Bridge Project in Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro on April 3, 2018. Joining the President is Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go. ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
The complainant behind the impeachment case against the Chief Magistrate of the High Court, clarified on Wednesday, April 4, that the President had nothing to do with his impeachment complaint.
“President [Rodrigo Roa] Duterte is not behind the [Maria Lourdes] Sereno case. I was there for a very important event that has personal interest to me,” Attorney Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon wrote in a text message to the media.
Saying that Duterte does not know him “personally” except perhaps from news stories released, Gadon maintained that his complaint to oust Sereno from her Chief Justice post was all his ‘decision and efforts.’
“Not in one instance that President Duterte asked me about the impeachment. President Duterte did not ask me to file any case, let alone the Sereno impeachment,” he further said.
The lawyer then added, “If ever President Duterte has to do with it, it is most likely only the inspiration that I am getting from his advocacy and desire to attain real change. And the inspiration I got from his courage to do what may be necessary to attain real change.”
Gadon was reacting to the speculations that surfaced, after a photo of him with the President and Special Assistant to the President Secretary Bong Go was taken in Oriental Mindoro. Duterte was in Oriental Mindoro for the inauguration of the Lisap Bridge Project in Bongabong on April 3, Tuesday.
In his text message, he said that since he is a native of Oriental Mindoro, he was thanking Duterte for the Lisap Bridge project.
Gadon filed an impeachment complaint against Sereno before the Senate and House of Representatives in August last year, a graft complaint on January this year before the Department of Justice (DOJ), and another graft complaint this March before the DOJ anew.
