Lawyer and political commentator Jesus Falcis announced he will comply with the Supreme Court’s order suspending him from legal practice for one year, while reaffirming that his actions were driven by dedication to his family.
In a recent television interview, Falcis conceded that the social media posts which led to his disciplinary case were improper, describing his language as “vulgar” and “wrong.”
However, he explained that his behavior stemmed from a desire to defend his brother, Nicko Falcis, who faced a prominent qualified theft complaint filed by actress and media personality Kris Aquino in 2018.
“I regret it as a lawyer. As a brother, I don’t,” Falcis remarked. “With all due respect to the Supreme Court, in any lifetime, in any multiverse, I would do what I did as a brother.”
Falcis clarified that he did not serve as his brother’s official legal counsel during the dispute. Instead, he guided his family and coordinated their public relations response during what he characterized as a highly stressful period.
“When I was in a fishbowl, when I was there, 2018-2019… there was no other thinking for me except an animalistic drive to defend my family,” he explained. “For me, yun ang feeling namin siyempre nun. Life or death that I had to defend the reputation of my brother, the reputation of my family.”
While he intends to respect the high tribunal’s decision, Falcis indicated he may still submit a motion for reconsideration to request that his personal motivations be factored in as a mitigating element.
“I’m not filing an MR (motion for reconsideration), most likely. But if I do file an MR, I would implead that they look at a mitigating circumstance in my favor,” he said, adding, “That the reason why I tweeted that was really just to defend my brother in the spur of the moment, in the heat of the moment.”
Falcis also emphasized that the one-year suspension strictly bars him from practicing law and performing legal duties, but does not affect his other professional identities.
“I’m not a suspended political analyst. I’m not a suspended Filipino. I’m not a suspended barangay kagawad,” he asserted.