Manila: Presidential Adviser on Poverty Alleviation Secretary Larry Gadon on Wednesday downplayed the contempt complaint filed against him before the Supreme Court by lawyer Ferdinand Topacio over his statements against the tribunal's decision on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment. Gadon proposed an unconventional method to resolve their differences through a karaoke challenge.

According to Philippines News Agency, Gadon, who has faced off with the high tribunal in the past, suggested that a singing competition could be a charitable way to address their conflict. "I challenge Atty. Topacio to a one-on-one voice and singing competition, for a cause," Gadon stated in a message to reporters.

Gadon expressed understanding of Topacio's actions, acknowledging that the contempt case was filed due to his blunt remarks on the Supreme Court's impeachment ruling. He described Topacio's approach as a strategy to garner publicity. "Some clients mistake empty noise and rhetoric insults as signs of a brilliant lawyer," Gadon remarked, emphasizing that legal outcomes should be based on reason rather than spectacle.

Topacio, however, dismissed Gadon's challenge, stating that the issue was serious and not a laughing matter.

In related developments, lawyers Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico filed a separate petition requesting the Supreme Court to cite Richard Heydarian and Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cenda±a for indirect contempt over their comments on the ruling.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled on July 25 that the impeachment complaint violated the one-year rule ban and was therefore unconstitutional.