Barzaga slapped 60-day suspension over FB posts
Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has been suspended for 60 days without pay and allowances after the House of Representatives adopted the recommendation of its ethics and privileges committee over a complaint filed against him for social media posts “unbefitting of a House member.”
During the plenary session on Monday, 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos said the committee, after deliberating on the complaint, found the lawmaker guilty of disorderly behavior by violation of Section 141(a), Rule 20 of the Rules of House of Representatives, and Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
A total of 249 House members voted in favor of the committee’s recommendation while five opposed it and 11 others abstained.
In reading the committee report, Abalos said the respondent’s “reckless, offensive and irresponsible use of his social media platform tarnishes the name, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives.”
Incendiary posts
In particular, he pointed to “incendiary social media contents” on Barzaga’s Facebook accounts and his failure to remove “publicly-viewable inappropriate and indecent photos.”
These actions, Abalos said, brought “contempt, discredit, and disrepute to the name of the House.”
The ethics complaint against Barzaga was filed by several National Unity Party (NUP) members, including party chair and Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno, over the Cavite solon’s alleged violation of House rules on the conduct expected of lawmakers.
At a press briefing on Sept. 15, Puno said that Barzaga’s social media posts, including lewd photos and an alleged ostentatious display of wealth, would be used as evidence in their complaint against him.
One of the photos presented by Puno showed a scantily-clad woman with her thighs wrapped around Barzaga’s neck.
Puno alleged in their ethics complaint that Barzaga committed the following violations:
Not acting in a manner that reflects creditably on the House; engaging in acts contrary to law, good morals, customs and public policy; conduct that incites seditious activity; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and unbecoming of a member of Congress.
Puno clarified they were not going after Barzaga because he was critical of the government, but because there were several misleading implications of his posts that seem to trivialize issues involving the House.
Barzaga was once a member of NUP, but he left in September after he was accused of soliciting signatures to remove then House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez from his post.
After leaving NUP, Barzaga started posting different criticisms against House members, Cabinet officials, Senate President Vicente Sotto III and even President Marcos.
Unwell?
At one point, he asked supposed “protesters” not to burn down the Batasang Pambansa complex where the House of Representatives is located until before they have evacuated employees and documents.
According to Puno, Barzaga seems unwell as his actions are not what is normally expected of a government official.
He claimed that Barzaga even stormed the office of Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, telling lawmakers inside to “sit down” before narrating his plans for Congress if he becomes Speaker.
