Coming from a well-known political clan from Olongapo and a public official for more than four decades, Richard Juico Gordon is no neophyte in the political arena. The 70-year-old former senator’s recent bid for the 2016 senatorial race is yet another try to regain his family’s lost glory in the political scene.

 

Their family’s influence extends from his father, James Sr.’s time in power as the first mayor of then municipality of Olongapo in 1966. Likewise, his mother Amelia served as mayor from 1968 to 1972 when Olongapo became a city.

 

Among all the positions he held, Gordon is most famous for being the governor and chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), a Philippine humanitarian organization. He is in PRC for three decades now.

 

Some of  the recues and rehabilitation he spearheaded were during the 1990 earthquake in Cabanatuan, 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 2004 landslides in Aurora, Quezon and 2006 Ginsaugun, Southern Leyte mudslide and the PhilSports Arena stampede. 

 

Despite his long experience with PRC, some critics see that he’s using the organization in forwarding his own political interests.

 

While Gordon’s mother is the founder and current chairperson of the PRC Olongapo chapter, his son, Brian, an Olongapo city councilor, sits on the Board of the chapter. His spouse, Kate, was honorary chapter chairperson during her three terms as mayor.

 

At the age of 24 and a sophomore law student at the University of the Philippines (UP), Gordon was the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Convention. Four years later, he graduated in UP and started to make his own mark in the political scene.

 

Following the footsteps of his parents, he also took on the mayoral position in their home town from 1980 to 1993. His wife and brother James Jr. later held the post too.

 

Despite Gordon’s long and strong experience in politics, his credibility and capability is yet to be tested as he faced the toughest issues in his life.
           

In 1986, the removal of all the duly elected local officials by Cory Aquino made Gordon oppose her. Together with then San Juan Mayor Joseph Estrada, Gordon fought the reorganization, refused to step down and campaigned against Aquino’s 1987 Constitution.

 

However, a bigger hindrance came in 1991 when he opposed the removal of the US Naval Base in Subic, a major job generator, but the Senate voted against extending the American bases treaty.

 

Gordon’s brainchild, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), not only made him earn accolades but also gave new life to the city after the dismantlement of the US Military Bases in 1991.

 

In 1998 tables turned for Gordon when Estrada assumed the presidency. Estrada ordered Gordon’s removal from his post as SBMA’s administrator in what was dubbed as the “Showdown in Subic.” He only stepped down after losing the court case two months later.

 

Gordon found his revenge when in 2001, he helped oust Estrada as president. Estrada’s successor, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, appointed him tourism secretary, which later made him known for his “Wow Philippines!” campaign.

 

Gordon ran and won under Arroyo’s Senate slate in 2004. Besides passing laws like the Tourism Act, Automated Election Law, Vetereran’s Law and Holiday Economics, Gordon headed the controversial Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

 

Despite being known as an ally of Arroyo, the senator led investigations into the fertilizer fund scam and the botched NBNZTE deal, where he recommended the prosecution of Arroyo officials.

 

During the 2010 national elections, Gordon and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando launched their “Transformers” tandem but failed.

 

In an interview with Rappler in 2013 when Gordon ran for the senatorial post, he enumerated some problems he wanted to address as senator: the territorial row with China, party switching, teachers’ low salary, unemployment, environmental degradation, and the rise in crimes perpetrated by motorcycle riders.

 

“The country is not working, my dear, and I don’t want to be like one of those in Gone With the Wind, who says, ‘Frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn.’ I do give a damn,” Gordon told Rappler reporter Ayee Macaraig.

 

In making his comeback in the Senate three years ago, Gordon teamed up with the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) where two of his political rivals, Estrada and Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, his family’s rival in Olongapo, are also members.

 

From having negative views about how Estrada governed the country before, he have changed his mind and shrugged off the rivalry.

                                                        

Beyond his alleged inconsistencies and issues regarding his political clan, Gordon maintained that his preparedness for the post is more important.

“I said I don’t care what people think of me, whether it’s a dynasty. That’s not the issue. The issue is you must learn to earn the position you’re aspiring for and that you must be prepared,” Gordon said in an interview with Rappler.

 

Recently, Gordon expressed his disapproval and filed a petition against the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) decision not to provide printed receipts to voters as this could be used as tools for vote- buying and vote-selling, according to the Comelec. Author and sponsor of the Republic Act (RA) 9369 or the Amended Automated Election System Law, Gordon pointed out that “there is no room for interpretation in complying with provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9369.”

 

Gordon further warned that the credibility of the May elections will suffer if the Comelec is allowed to have its way.

 

On the issues of LGBT+ on the other hand, Gordon explained that he is not expert on the matter but pointed out that he has gay staff members and he listens to them.

 

When asked about his plans for generating jobs, Gordon said "We need to decongest Manila. We need to disperse industries and jobs in areas like Bulacan." 

 

The Senatorial candidate’s platforms focuses on education, agriculture, enhancement of tourism, information technology, and national defense.

 

Gordon, being a lawyer, politician, broadcast journalist at News5 and public servant, also believes in his vision that leadership more than anything else, "must be focused, fast, friendly, flexible and forward-looking.”

 

"Dick", as he prefers to be called, finished elementary at the San Juan De Letran. He then went to high school at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU). He completed a degree in AB History & Government also at the ADMU.