ABS-CBN broadcast journalists Tony Velasquez and Karmina Constantino did not hold back in criticizing Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon for his controversial remarks against ABS-CBN News.
Gadon once again attracted attention after his contentious statement that poverty in the Philippines is merely ‘haka-haka’ (imagination). During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program on PTV4 on May 17, Gadon dismissed concerns about poverty, claiming it was imaginary because people still flock to malls and traffic congestion is caused by numerous car owners in the metro.
“Sa totoo lang ‘yang mga nagsasabi na napakahirap ng buhay ngayon ay sila lang ang nagsasabi niyan, haka-haka lang nila ‘yan, Pero ang katotohanan, magpunta ka sa mga mall, punong-puno. Ibig sabihin, mataas ang purchasing power ng mga Pilipino. Lumabas ka ng kalsada, napakaraming bagong kotse, napaka-traffic. Anong ibig sabihin niyan? Maraming nakakabili ng kotse, which means maganda ang ekonomiya,” Gadon said.
Following the viral spread of his statement, Gadon retracted and accused ABS-CBN News of misquoting him.
In an interview with Terry Ridon on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo Serbisyo on Tuesday, May 20, the disbarred lawyer harshly criticized the network, suggesting their studio should be burned for false reporting.
“Puro kasinungalingan ang ginagawa ng ABS-CBN, dapat talaga sunugin yang studio nila, sunugin ang kanilang pamamaraan. Walang kwentang istasyon yan puro paninira, isipin nyo…sinabi ko raw na wala nang kahirapan sa Pilipinas?”
Defending the news organization, Ridon read Gadon’s exact quote on air, where Gadon explicitly stated that poverty in the country is just ‘haka-haka.’
In addition to Ridon, veteran Kapamilya broadcast journalist Tony Velasquez took to Twitter (now X) to condemn Gadon’s statement. He asked “Ano ang karapat dapat na parusa para sa isang cabinet rank official na hayagang nanawagan na sunugin ang pasilidad ng isang media outfit? Palalampasin ba dapat ito ng mismong publiko?” asked.
Ano ang karapat dapat na parusa para sa isang cabinet rank official na hayagang nanawagan na sunugin ang pasilidad ng isang media outfit? Palalampasin ba dapat ito ng mismong publiko?
— Tony Velasquez (@KakanTuring) May 20, 2024
ABS-CBN anchor Karmina Constantino also denounced Gadon following his remarks on Terry Ridon’s program.
In her scathing commentary on her Teleradyo Serbisyo program on Tuesday, May 20, Constantino criticized Gadon’s inconsistent statements about poverty in the country.
“Sana nakikinig din ang ating Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation, itong disbarred na abogado na si Larry Gadon. Aba eh sabi nya, parang kasinungalingan daw itong inulat ng ating kasamahan dito ha. Ang sabi nya eh, hindi daw totoong sinabi nya na haka-haka ang kahirapan. Ang sinabi naman nya kasi some hindi daw lahat. Pero eto ang tanong ko sayo ha, Larry Gadon, pede bang maging totoo ang kahirapan sa iba, at haka-haka sa iba? Eh gampanan mo ng mahusay yang trabaho mo.”
“Itong disbarred na abogado na si Larry Gadon…”
Ang talagang haka haka ay kung may utak yang disbarred lawyer na yan. Get him, Kween KC! pic.twitter.com/fstbygV1dy
— ricci (@ricci_richy) May 20, 2024
Another Kapamilya news anchor, Peter Musngi, also criticized Gadon, saying, “Grabe ang tapang mo ah, parang may silbi ah.”
“Parang may silbi ha”
HAHAHAHA. The shade kay Disbarred na Abogagong si Larry Gadon. pic.twitter.com/KmmCVEdTdo
— Ren*ੈ✩‧₊˚ (@elrheendavid) May 20, 2024
Gadon was a vehement critic of ABS-CBN during its franchise renewal application and was among the first to celebrate on social media when the Duterte-led Congress denied and terminated the ABS-CBN franchise in 2020.
