Escudero files disbarment case vs. lawyer over FB posts

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Monday filed a disbarment case against lawyer Jesus Falcis with the Supreme Court (SC) over some of his Facebook posts concerning the public official, but Falcis said that Escudero should be the one disbarred for the disclosing the filing of the case.

In his complaint, Escudero cited Canon II of the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) and the responsible use of social media.

He cited posts wherein Falcis called him “shameless” and “bulok na keso,” among others, over his budget insertions. Escudero also said that the SC previously cited Falcis in direct contempt and indirect contempt.

He asked the SC to disbar Falcis and to direct the Office of the Bar Confidant to have his name stricken off the roll of attorneys.

“All told, there is more than substantial evidence against respondent to show how unfit he is to continue to possess the privileges of the legal profession warranting his disbarment from its practice and the removal of his name from the Roll of Attorneys,” he said.

“Respondent already proven himself unworthy of the privileges accorded to the members of the Philippine Bar and to primarily practice law in the Philippines,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Falcis cited Section 18, Rule 139-B of the Rules of Court, which states that proceedings against attorneys shall be private and confidential.

“By disclosing and disseminating the fact of his filing of a disbarment complaint against me, Atty. Chiz Escudero himself has committed an act worthy of disbarment,” he said in a statement.

He also doubled down on the remarks he made in his Facebook posts, saying he speaks truth to power.

“He is a Senator of the Republic. I am but one of the many Filipinos who are calling out his reprehensible actions as a public official,” he said.

“Instead of filing disbarment cases against lawyers like me who call him out, Senator Escudero should focus on explaining the 160 Million Pesos kickback that Bernardo accused him of pocketing and the 142 Billion Pesos of budget insertions he made in the 2025 Budget,” he later added.

Falcis is referring to the allegations made by former Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo against Escudero over anomalous flood control projects.

In his affidavit, Bernardo said a Maynard Ngu, a mutual friend, asked him to submit a list of projects, some of which were included in the General Appropriations Act. Bernardo testified that after he gave the list and asked him how to proceed, Ngu told him that it is up to him. He asked if 20% was acceptable and he said Maynard affirmed that it is.

Escudero has denied the allegations against him. —KG, GMA Integrated News