IN BRIEF

President says Gadon ‘great addition’ to staff

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said newly-appointed Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Larry Gadon would be a “great addition” to the administration despite his disbarment from the High Court.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating mga hakbang upang tuldukan ang kahirapan sa bansa,” the President said on his Facebook page.

“Bahagi nito ang pagtalaga natin kay G. Larry Gadon bilang Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation. Tiwala tayo na ang kanyang karanasan at kakayahan ay makatutulong sa pagtukoy sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

On June 28, the Supreme Court unanimously disbarred Gadon, 15-0, over a viral video where he hurled misogynistic and sexist remarks against a journalist.

Gadon previously downplayed his disbarment and said that “being a secretary is much sweeter”.

The beleaguered lawyer said that his team will file a motion for reconsideration of his disbarment.

The appointment of Gadon drew flak from netizens, questioning his experience and credibility to lead as the antipoverty czar.

Progressive groups called on the President to withdraw his decision to appoint Gadon. Charles Dantes

‘Sokor leader’s visit to boost PH tourism’

A HOUSE leader on Tuesday expressed optimism that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Manila will boost bilateral relations notably in the Philippines’ tourism sector.

Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, said “South Korea has been the Philippines’ No. 1 supplier of foreign visitors for years, and we are counting on Mr. Yoon’s visit to encourage even more Koreans to spend their vacations here.”

“We could use a larger number of recreational travelers from South Korea to help our highly labor-intensive tourism industry create additional jobs for Filipinos,” Rillo added.

Rillo issued his observations even as the Department of Tourism (DOT) is embroiled in a controversy over the new “Love the Philippines” branding program’s use of a campaign video with footage of locations outside the country.

The South Korean leader’s plan to visit the Philippines was conveyed by Lee Sang-Hwa, Seoul’s new ambassador to Manila, when he presented his credentials to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Monday.

“Mr. Yoon’s visit will surely boost not only the government-to-government but also the people-to-people relations between the Philippines and South Korea. This augurs well for our tourism enterprises,” Rillo said. Maricel V. Cruz

Solons to grill PCG on luxury vehicles

SENATORS are poised to question the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) over the alleged procurement of luxury vehicles for its officials.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said since it is budget season, they will grill the PCG officials in the Senate budget hearing on the command’s proposed appropriations for 2024.

On the other hand, Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, gave assurance they will scrutinize the national budget.

He said the PCG should know the administrative issuances and government policies regarding the purchase of vehicles.

He pointed out that the matter was the job of PCG lawyers and legal officers.

Earlier, the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged the PCG on the purchase of a P7.8-million bulletproof sport utility vehicle (SUV) for its commandant.

The PCG reportedly bought the vehicle- a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado- for P5 million and spent another P2.8 million to make it bulletproof.

The COA noted there was a violation of the government ban on the purchase and use of luxury vehicles.

The PCG insisted, however, that the money used to buy the questioned vehicle “came from rebates from an oil company. Macon Ramos-Araneta

By Maricel V. Cruz

A FORMER congressman from Bukidnon and a private individual face up to 70 years in prison for misuse of the politician’s pork barrel in 2007 and 2008.

The Sandiganbayan affirmed the conviction of former Bukidnon Rep. Candido P. Pancrudo Jr. and private individual Johanne Edward Labay for the misuse of Pancrudo’s P36.9 million Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

In a resolution issued on July 10, 2023, the anti-graft court denied the motions for reconsideration filed by Pancrudo on April 28 and Labay on April 29. Both asked the antigraft court to reverse its April 14, 2023 decision that