Dick Gordon (politician)

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Richard J. Gordon
)
For other people with the same name, see Richard Gordon (disambiguation).
In this article, the
matronymic surname
).

The Honorable
Dick Gordon
Senator Richard Gordon visits a community in 2009
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2016 – June 30, 2022
In office
June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2010
Senate committee chairmanships
Chair of the
Gemma Cruz Araneta
Succeeded byRobert Dean Barbers (acting)
Chairman and Administrator of the
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
In office
March 13, 1992 – June 30, 1998
PresidentCorazon Aquino
Fidel V. Ramos
Succeeded byFelicito Payumo
Mayor of Olongapo
In office
February 2, 1988 – July 23, 1993
Preceded byIldefonso O. Arriola
Succeeded byKatherine Gordon
In office
March 3, 1980 – April 23, 1986
Preceded byGeronimo Lipumano
Succeeded byTeodoro Macapagal
Delegate to the
1971 Constitutional Convention
In office
June 1, 1971 – November 29, 1972
Personal details
Born
Richard Juico Gordon

(1945-08-05) August 5, 1945 (age 78)
Castillejos, Zambales, Commonwealth of the Philippines
Political partyBagumbayan–VNP (2009–present)
Other political
affiliations		UNA (2012–2013)
Lakas–CMD (2004–2009)
Nacionalista (1988–2004)
KBL (1980–1988)
SpouseKatherine H. Gordon
Children4
Residence(s)Olongapo, Zambales
Alma materAteneo de Manila University (BA)
University of the Philippines Diliman (LL.B.)
Occupation
  • Civil servant
  • lawyer
  • politician
  • radio and television presenter
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Richard Juico Gordon (born August 5, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who most recently served as a Senator from 2016 to 2022, and previously from 2004 to 2010. He is the chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross since 2004.

He rose to national prominence for his work in preserving and developing the former U.S. naval base in Subic when he served as the first chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority from 1992 to 1998, and when he conceptualized the Wow Philippines campaign as Secretary of Tourism from 2001 to 2004.

Gordon was the mayor of Olongapo from 1980 to 1986 and from 1988 to 1993, and was also the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention.

Early life and education

Gordon was born in

Batasang Pambansa in 1984.[2] Gordon has American ancestry through his paternal grandfather John Jacob Gordon, a United States Army officer.[3]

In 1958, Gordon completed his elementary education at Lourdes Catholic School (now Lourdes School of Quezon City) in Quezon City and Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila. He then finished his secondary education in 1962 at the Ateneo de Manila University. He stayed in Ateneo for his tertiary education, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts, Major in History and Government degree in 1966.[4]

Gordon acquired his Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1975. While studying law, Gordon joined the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity and was elected councilor of the UP Diliman University Student Council.[5][6]

Political career

Further information: Political positions of Richard Gordon

1971 Constitutional Convention

While still a sophomore law student, Gordon was elected as the delegate of the first district of Zambales to the 1971 Constitutional Convention for the drafting of the 1973 Constitution of the Philippines. At 24 years old, he was the youngest delegate in the convention.[6]

Mayor of Olongapo (1980–1993)

In 1980, he was elected mayor of Olongapo. During his term as mayor, Olongapo became a highly urbanized city in 1983. Gordon prioritized raising police accountability through I.D. systems, proper health and sanitation, waste management, and the strict implementation of a color-coding scheme for public transportation vehicles.[7]

After the 1986 People Power Revolution, the provisional government of President Corazon Aquino issued an order for Gordon to vacate his position as Olongapo mayor, which Gordon refused in the absence of a written dismissal order. A former member of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, Gordon was one of several local officials removed in a housecleaning effort by the Aquino government to replace potential loyalists of Ferdinand Marcos.[8] The political crisis resulted in protests and clashes between Gordon's supporters and the supporters of Aquino's appointee Teodoro Macapagal.[9] Gordon eventually made way for Macapagal after a formal written directive was issued by then-executive secretary Joker Arroyo.[6] Gordon would be re-elected back to the position in 1988.

As mayor of Olongapo, Gordon described himself as a "pragmatist."[10] Gordon defended the American military presence in Subic Bay by arguing that the Philippines is neither militarily nor economically prepared to lose the naval bases, citing the $500 million income generated per year from spending by U.S. servicemen and from the salaries of thousands of Filipino employees and contractors in the bases.[11] Despite shutting down the "seedier" aspects of Olongapo's nightlife, Gordon defended the presence of bars and brothels in Olongapo, and also spoke positively of the income earned by the 6,000 licensed "bar girls" in the city.[12] In 1988, Gordon led the city's efforts of stemming an HIV/AIDS outbreak in prostitutes that catered to US servicemen by conducting monthly meetings with HIV-positive prostitutes, offering them alternative livelihoods, and ensuring that they cooperated with city health officials.[11][13]

Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (1992–1998)

In the

1987 Constitution prohibits elected officials from holding appointive positions in a public office during their tenure. Thus, the Supreme Court ruled that Gordon must choose which position to keep.[15] Gordon decided to vacate his position as mayor and assumed the position of SBMA chairman in full capacity.[16]

In 1992, Gordon was credited for organizing thousands of volunteers to clean volcanic ash, and maintain security in the former base, preventing the looting that had occurred in Clark Air Base earlier in the year.[17][18]

During Gordon's term, Subic experienced significant economic growth with 200 companies investing $1.6 billion in Subic and manufacturing exports reaching $263 million in 1996.[19] Gordon was also influential in convincing FedEx to establish their Asian regional hub in Subic in 1995.[20]

In 1998, Gordon resigned as chairman of the SBMA in order to run for president in the upcoming election. However, he eventually backed out from pursuing his candidacy. Gordon was later re-appointed by the outgoing president Ramos as chairman for a new six-year term.[21][22]

After winning the 1998 presidential elections, newly elected President Joseph Estrada's immediately issued his first administrative order removing Gordon as chairman of the SBMA on June 30, 1998.[23] Gordon and Estrada had previously formed a bitter rivalry in 1989 when Gordon prohibited Estrada from filming an anti-bases movie inside Subic and Olongapo, with Estada claiming his film crew were pelted with stones by Gordon's supporters.[24] Despite Estrada's orders, Gordon refused to vacate his office while his supporters erected barricades in the SBMA premises. On July 26, 1998, police broke through the barricades and clashed with Gordon's supporters, resulting in at least 95 injuries.[24] According to The Wall Street Journal, the incident damaged Subic's reputation as an investment destination and cost the local economy an estimated $3.5 million of lost income per day of the 'siege'.[25][26]

Gordon was succeeded by former Bataan congressman Felicito Payumo as SBMA chairman.[24]

Secretary of Tourism (2001–2004)

In January 2001, Gordon actively participated in the second

EDSA Revolution that led to the removal of Joseph Estrada from the presidency.[27] Estrada's successor Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Gordon as secretary of the Department of Tourism on January 24, 2001.[28]

Gordon's flagship marketing campaign "

World Tourism Organization in 2002 and chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association in 2003.[29]

Senator (2004–2010)

Typhoon Frank
(June 2008).

In the 2004 election, Gordon ran for senator under the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (transl. Coalition of Truth and Experience for Tomorrow) electoral alliance of President Arroyo. He won the election with 12,707,151 votes, ranking fifth in the overall tabulation.[30]

As senator, Gordon authored laws such as the Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act,[31] the National Tourism Policy Act,[32] the Free Patent Law,[33] and the Philippine Disaster Reduction and Management Act.[34] He was also responsible for the passage of Automated Elections Systems Law which was piloted in the 2008 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections.[35]

As chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, Gordon investigated the 2004 Fertilizer Fund Scam and the ZTE National Broadband corruption scandal.[36][37]

2010 presidential election

Commission on Elections in October 2009.[40]

On November 29, 2009, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando revealed that he and Gordon were having discussions on a possible team-up for the 2010 elections.[41] A few days later, on December 1, 2009, Gordon and Fernando officially announced their tandem during a press conference at the senate press office in Pasay, with Gordon running for the presidency and Fernando running for the vice presidency. During the press conference, they billed themselves as "the transformers" who intend to "transform the nation".[40] Later in the day, the tandem filed their certificates of candidacy in the COMELEC main office.[42]

Gordon lost the 2010 presidential election to Benigno Aquino III.[43]

2013 senatorial election

On August 28, 2012, the United Nationalist Alliance announced that they will include Gordon among their senatorial bets for the 2013 senatorial election.[44] Gordon failed to win a seat in the senate, having finished 13th overall at 705,940 votes behind 12th-placed Gregorio Honasan.[45]

Return to the Senate (2016–2022)

Sung Kim
.

Gordon ran in the 2016 Senate election as an independent candidate and won, finishing fifth.[46]

In September 2016, Gordon replaced Senator Leila de Lima as chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, after the senate voted to declare all committee positions vacant.[47] After only six hearings, Gordon controversially ended the senate probe on the rise of killings associated with the Philippine drug war, concluding that the extrajudicial killings were not state sponsored or sanctioned by the Duterte administration.[48] Gordon also found "no proof" that the Davao Death Squad existed or that the killings were ordered by then-Davao mayor Duterte.[49][50]

On August 15, 2017, Gordon exonerated President Duterte's son Paolo Duterte of involvement in a shabu smuggling scheme.[51] In September 2017, Gordon was one of the seven senators that did not sign a senate resolution urging the government to stop the spate of killings.[52] Gordon claimed, along with the other seven senators, that they were simply not aware of the resolution being passed around.[53]

In January 2019, Gordon defended a proposal to lower the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the Philippines.[54]

In 2021, Gordon headed the senate investigation on the government's procurement of overpriced pandemic-related goods.[55] The probe, which implicated close associates of the president, resulted in Duterte and Gordon engaging in a high profile word war and exchange of legal threats.[56][57][58]

In his second stint as senator, Gordon authored or co-authored laws such as the Philippine Passport Act,[59] the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,[60] the Police Courts Act,[61] and the Free Irrigation Service Act.[62] Gordon voted to approve the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.[63] Meanwhile, Gordon was the only senator to oppose the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Bill, which aims to cut corporate income taxes and rationalize tax perks.[64] Gordon has expressed opposition against the reimposition of the death penalty in the Philippines, and has claimed that the proposed Divorce Bill violates the Constitution.[65][66]

On October 8, 2021, Gordon announced that he would for run for re-election as a senator in the

COMELEC vote counts indicated that his deficit was too great to overcome.[68]
This was confirmed by the final results, in which he finished twenty-second in a race to fill twelve seats elected from the nation at large.

Personal life

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Gordon (politician).

Gordon is married to Katherine Gordon, who served as congressman of the first district of Zambales from 1988 to 1995. She succeeded her husband as mayor of Olongapo in 1995 and served three consecutive terms until 2004. They have four children.[16]

Following the end of his Senate term in 2010, Gordon anchored Aksyon Solusyon with

TeleRadyo (originally DZMM
), alongside Jeffrey Hernaez.

Awards

Gordon is a recipient of various awards, such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM), The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL), the University of the Philippines' Most Outstanding Alumnus in Public Service and its Most Distinguished Alumnus. The latter is the highest award that could be bestowed by the UP Law Alumni Association.[70]

Gordon was also awarded the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency's Lifetime National Volunteer Achievement Award, the sole recipient of the award in 2015.[70]

Gordon has been awarded the three highest awards from the Red Cross: the Aurora Aragon Quezon Medal, the Silver Humanitarian Service Cross Award and the Gold Humanitarian Service Cross Award.[70]

Gordon was also a recipient of the Japanese Red Cross Gold Humanitarian Award. He also received recognition from various foreign media such as Asiaweek's Twenty Great Asians of the Future and Asahi Shimbun's 50 Young Leaders of Asia, among others.[70]

Ancestry

External links

References

  1. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  2. ^ "Remembering and Honoring the Life and Legacy of Amelia Juico-Gordon, Former Assemblywoman of the 1984 Batasan Pambansa, Civic Leader and Humanitarian" (PDF). Senate of the Philippines.
  3. ^ Fineman, Mark (March 31, 1988). "Identity Doubts Linger: Amerasians at Home in Philippines". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ "The Vote 2010: Richard Juico Gordon". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  5. ^ "Gordon meets with UP law students". Senate of the Philippines.
  6. ^ a b c "About Dick Gordon". Archived from the original on February 2, 2010. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  7. ^ Servando, Kristine (December 15, 2009). "Is the Philippines Ready for Dick Gordon?". Newsbreak Online. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  8. ^ "Entertainment workers protest Subic strike". UPI. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  9. ^ Fineman, Mark (March 23, 1986). "Filipino Pickets Block Gates of U.S. Naval Base". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ "Sex Drives the Philippine Economy outside Base". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Filipinos Blame U.S. For AIDS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  12. ISSN 0190-8286
    . Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  13. ^ Fineman, Mark (March 9, 1988). "Takes Up Plight of Infected Bar Girls Who Cater to U.S. Forces: Philippine Mayor in Front Lines of AIDS War". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  14. ^ "Thousands rally to support mayor crucial to Subic conversion". UPI. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "G.R. No. 104732". lawphil.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  16. ^ a b "PROFILE: Richard "DICK" Juico Gordon". ABS-CBN News. May 13, 2009.
  17. ^ Schoenberger, Karl (May 5, 1994). "Subic Bay: A Relic Is Reborn". Los Angeles Times.
  18. ^ Branigin, William (November 13, 1993). "Beachhead for a New Philippines". The Washington Post.
  19. ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Selling of Subic". Asiaweek. July 19, 1996. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  21. ^ "Defiant Orbos is Rene Veep". Manila Standard Today. February 10, 1998. Retrieved February 13, 2010.[permanent dead link]
  22. ^ Battered Subic Chief Loses Appeal to Stay, Journal of Commerce, September 2, 1998
  23. ^ "Administrative Order No. 1, s. 1998 | GOVPH". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  24. ^ a b c Lopez, Antonio (August 7, 1998). "Dick Gordon's Last Stand". Asiaweek.
  25. ISSN 0099-9660
    . Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  26. ISSN 0099-9660
    . Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  27. ^ "Gordon disappointed over Cory's apology". Senate of the Philippines.
  28. ^ Dones, Liberty. "Gordon named tourism secretary". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  29. ^ "The Chairman". Philippine Red Cross.
  30. ^ "2004 National and Local Elections - Senators". COMELEC.
  31. ^ Orejas, Tonette; Ubac, Michael Lim (April 10, 2008). "Arroyo Signs New Veterans' Law". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on September 25, 2012.
  32. ^ Palaubsano, Mitchelle L.; Pareja, Jessica Ann R. (May 14, 2009). "Big Boost to Industry: Arroyo Signs Tourism Act". Philstar.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  33. ^ "Gordon: Free patent law to benefit 39 million Filipinos with untitled lands". Senate of the Philippines.
  34. ^ "LGUs need to adapt better to more destructive weather disaster - Gordon". Senate of the Philippines.
  35. ^ "Finally, Gordon's Automated Elections Law implemented". Senate of the Philippines. August 11, 2008.
  36. ^ "Gordon vows 'closure' on fertilizer fund scam probe". Senate of the Philippines.
  37. ^ "Gordon agrees to submits NBN report to Ombudsman after visit of JDV son". Philstar.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  38. ^ Salaverria, Leila (April 25, 2009). "Party Formed to Push for Gordon Candidacy". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on April 28, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  39. ABS-CBN News
    . Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  40. ^
    GMA News. December 1, 2009. Archived from the original
    on February 18, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  41. GMA News. November 29, 2009. Archived from the original
    on March 7, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  42. GMA News. Archived from the original
    on February 5, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  43. ^ Dalangin-Fernandez, Lira (June 9, 2010). "Aquino, 15th President of the Philippines". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010. Retrieved June 9, 2010.
  44. ^ "Gordon, Maceda running under UNA". Rappler. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  45. ^ Crisostomo, Shiela (May 19, 2013). "Final 3 Senators-Elect Proclaimed". Philstar. Archived from the original on June 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  46. ^ Esmaquel, Paterno II (May 19, 2016). "Meet PH's 12 New Senators". Rappler. Archived from the original on May 22, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  47. ^ Avendaño, Christine O. (September 20, 2016). "De Lima ousted as chair of panel". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  48. ^ "Senate ends probe: Neither Duterte nor state sponsored killings". RAPPLER. October 13, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  49. ^ "Duterte allies seek to block testimony of Philippine 'death squad' ringleader". Reuters. February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  50. ^ Ager, Maila (December 7, 2016). "No proof of state killings, death squad existence–Senate committee". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  51. ^ "No evidence vs Paolo Duterte in smuggled shabu case – Gordon". RAPPLER. August 15, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  52. ^ "Senate Resolution 516". Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018 – via senate.gov.ph.
  53. ^ Avendaño, Christine O. (September 28, 2017). "7 Senators Angry at 'Prostitution' of Senate Resolution". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  54. ^ Ilas, Joyce (January 26, 2019). "Gordon to Recommend Lowering Age of Criminal Liability to 12". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  55. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (February 7, 2022). "Gordon: 8 senators, so far, have signed Senate panel's Pharmally report". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  56. ^ Gonzales, Cathrine (September 16, 2021). "Duterte to Gordon: Inciting to sedition? File a case and I'll sue you too". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  57. ^ "Sen. Richard J. Gordon's Statement on Duterte's latest threat". Senate of the Philippines.
  58. ^ "Duterte threatens to file case against Gordon for alleged malversation of ₱86-M fund". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  59. ^ Ager, Maila (May 15, 2017). "Bill extending validity of passport to 10 years OK'd in Senate". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  60. ^ "Senate calls for immediate implementation of free tuition for SUCs". Senate of the Philippines.
  61. ^ "Gordon pushes for measure that will create special court to handle cases committed by policemen". Senate of the Philippines.
  62. ^ "Villar: Senate to approve free irrigation for farmers by year end". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  63. ^ Avendaño, Christine O. (November 29, 2017). "Senate approves tax reform bill". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  64. ^ "Senate approves CREATE bill on final reading". RAPPLER. November 26, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  65. ^ "Gordon not keen on sponsoring refiled death penalty bills in the Senate". GMA News Online. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  66. ^ "Divorce bill gets mixed reactions from Senate". Philippine News Agency.
  67. ^ Gonzales, Cathrine (October 8, 2021). "Senator Gordon seeks reelection in 2022". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  68. ^ Torregoza, Hannah (May 10, 2022). "Gordon accepts his defeat: 'I will forever desire victory, unity for our country'". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2022.
  69. ^ Moriones-Doromal, Cherry (February 22, 2011). "Dick Gordon on Radio and Tv". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 25, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  70. ^ a b c d "Senator Richard J. Gordon". Senate of the Philippines. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by
Office created
 Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority
1992–1998 		Succeeded by
Felicito Payumo
Preceded by
Gemma Cruz Araneta
 Secretary of Tourism
2001–2004 		Succeeded by
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