SEN. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday asked the Supreme Court to disbar lawyer Jesus Nicardo Madarang Falcis III for the latter’s social media posts against the lawmaker, which he claimed to have violated the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA) of lawyers.
In a verified complaint, Escudero said Falcis’s posts were conduct unbecoming of a member of the Philippine Bar.
Escudero described Falcis’ posts as “gross and serious violations” of the CPRA, adding the posts were also “accusatory, defamatory, demeaning, speculative, hateful and or malicious.”
He said these were sufficient grounds to have the name of Falcis expunged from the roster of lawyers in the country.
Eacudero cited multiple posts from July to September 2025 that, he added, “maliciously” maligned him over the 2025 national budget and flood control programs.
Among them were Falcis’ remarks calling him “shameless,” “the worst Senate President in history,” and repeatedly referring to him as “bulok na keso” or “rotten cheese.”
“He failed to abide by the highest standards of the legal profession as to warrant the extreme penalty of disbarment. And while it may be argued by respondent that he employed ‘only words’ as to perhaps justify a lighter penalty, the public and tenacious character of his conduct requires no less than removal from the Roll of Attorneys,” the complaint said.
Escudero said that Falcis violated Canon II (Propriety) by failing to act with courtesy and civility toward a fellow lawyer, and Canon III (Fidelity) by undermining respect for the rule of law when he aired accusations on social media rather than before the proper forum.
The lawmaker noted that Falcis had previously been cited by the High Court for direct and indirect contempt in another case, showing a “propensity to violate and continue to violate” the CPRA.
Escudero emphasized that while he recognizes that public officials must accept criticism, lawyers, on the other hand, are duty-bound to exercise their rights with dignity.
“As a duly elected public official, as well as having been in public service for many years, the complainant naturally respects the right of every citizen, including the respondent as a co-member of the Philippine Bar, to comment on matters of public interest. The premise of our republican democracy is that all power emanates from the people. Public officers must, at all times, be accountable to the people because public office is a public trust. To give effect to this mandate, a full discussion of public affairs is indispensable,” he added.
The SC had previously sanctioned lawyers for similar outbursts.
In 2022, the SC disbarred lawyer Berteni “Toto” Causing for posting a draft plunder complaint on Facebook that subjected a government official to “public hate, contempt and ridicule.”
The following year, the SC stripped lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon of his license to practice after a profane tirade on social media against a journalist.
These examples, according to Escudero, showed that freedom of speech was not absolute for members of the Bar.
“The language used by Falcis in his Facebook posts can hardly be considered as a form of free speech and thus cannot be protected under the Constitution. As a lawyer, the respondent should be the first one to follow with utmost fealty to constitutional law. He should be an example to all,” he added.
Escudero argued that disbarment should be the ultimate penalty imposed, as he added that suspension or reprimand would not suffice given the fact that Falcis, previously found guilty by the SC of indirect contempt, was a repeat offender.
