Falcis brothers’ claims are ‘diversionary tactics’ — Kris Aquino’s lawyer

Kris Aquino's counsel on Sunday said that the claims recently raised by the Falcis brothers against his client are meant to divert the public's attention away from the legal cases filed by the actress against them.

"Our client is still confined in a hospital in Singapore. We will not dignify with any response the side issues which have been raised by the Falcis brothers," lawyer Ricky Dela Cruz of Divina Law told GMA News Online in an e-mailed message.

"These side issues are diversionary tactics meant to blur the real issues. We intend to focus on the cases only," he added.

Dela Cruz was referring to the nine counts of cyber libel cases filed by Aquino against lawyer Jesus "Jess" Falcis III, brother of her former business partner Nicardo "Nicko" Falcis, for supposed "defamatory statements" he made against her on social media.

Nicko himself is facing 44 counts of qualified theft raps filed by the actress, who has accused him of using Kristina C. Aquino Productions' funds for his personal expenses.

Jess Falcis, in a press conference on Wednesday, called Aquino a hypocrite, and warned the actress not to mess with "two gay brothers" who have the "truth on their side."

"It’s hypocritical for her to file a libel case when Kris Aquino was the first one to libel my brother. Any libelous statements I made against her are in defense of my brother’s reputation, a defense recognized in libel cases," he said.

After months of silence, Nicko also came forward last week, saying "I refuse to be her victim."

In a separate statement he gave to PEP.ph, Nicko said that he was not raised to steal, and claimed that the actress actually owes him P9 million.

"In fact, I have not been paid about P9 Million worth of commissions, something she conveniently left out while she has harangued me and my family on her claim that I stole P1.2 Million using a credit card issued in my name," he said.

Dela Cruz denied Nicko Falcis' claim.

"This is simply not true. This is a mere afterthought. He could have raised this at the soonest possible time and thru a proper demand letter or court action, instead of the media," he said.

"Nicko also brags about having closed 53 endorsements for Ms. Kris. He is entitled to think so highly of himself but does he really believe that those companies engaged the services of Ms. Kris as endorser because of him? That is wishful thinking," the lawyer from Kris's camp added.

Apart from the credit card issue, Dela Cruz said that Nicko could still not account for another P40 million which was part of the allegedly misappropriated trust fund of the actress.

"Nakakalungkot na tila si Ms. Kris Aquino pa ang nagmumukang kontra bida sa storya nila," the lawyer said. — BM, GMA News