Election lawyer Howie Calleja today blasted Larry Gadon for again spreading “fake news” in an attempt to draw away public attention from the disqualification cases filed by several groups against former senator Bongbong Marcos.
“Again, Gadon is acting like your garden-variety internet troll and is spewing fake news here and there in a desperate attempt to misdirect the public from the fact that Marcos Jr. is facing several credible disqualification cases before the Comelec,” Calleja said in a statement.
“But our eyes are focused on getting the dictator’s son disqualified from running for president. No amount of fake news can hinder us from pursuing our objectives to its fruition. And we feel that with Gadon’s attacks, we are really hitting the nail on the head,” he added.
Gadon had earlier libelously claimed that Calleja had been suspended by both the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and the Supreme Court (SC), citing a case filed against the election lawyer way back in 2009.
“All I have to say about Gadon’s claim is this: Both the SC and the IBP Board of Governors have exonerated me from any wrongdoing in this case. As early as 2019, this case had been dismissed and ended with finality by the SC,” Calleja explained.
“This futile attempt to intimidate me and drag my name in this political circus will only fortify my resolve to fight for what is right and to publicly campaign for the presidential candidate I feel would bring our country out of this ‘big mess’ we are collectively experiencing,” he continued.
Calleja said that he expects the attack dogs of Marcos Jr. like Gadon to intensify their spread of fake news in the next few days as the Comelec deliberates on the disqualification cases against the dictator’s son.
“I have several harassment cases and threats, and people even posted photoshopped pictures of me online. This stunt by Gadon is just the latest tirade of fake news against me. Gadon posted it on his website, clearly identifying him as the origin,” Calleja said.
“But we are ready. Their weapon is fake news, and ours is the truth. And the truth is Marcos Jr. should be disqualified for violating the tax code,” he stressed.
Calleja, along with other civil society personalities, earlier filed two cases before the Comelec against Marcos Jr:
First, for the cancellation of his certificate of candidacy under Sec. 78 of the Omnibus Election Code for material misrepresentation when he said he was not convicted of any crime, and; Second, for disqualification under Sec. 12 of the same law in relation to Sec. 253c of the tax code after the conviction by final judgment of violation of the tax code.
The cases are now pending before the Comelec.
The post Calleja calls out Gadon, ‘No amount of fake news can misdirect people from DQ cases vs. Marcos Jr’ appeared first on The Philippine Business and News.
