Barzaga suspended for another 60 days
Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has again gotten into trouble over his social media posts, earning him another 60-day suspension without pay for “repeated, escalating misconduct.”
On Wednesday, a total of 238 House lawmakers voted in favor of adopting the recommendation of the ethics and privileges committee to impose the new sanction against him. Ten other lawmakers objected while nine abstained.
During the plenary session, ethics and privileges committee chair and 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos read their report regarding the privilege speeches delivered last month by National Unity Party (NUP) members—Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer and Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano—on Barzaga’s recent social media posts.
Ferrer had cited Barzaga’s Jan. 9 post in which the neophyte lawmaker accused NUP members of receiving bribes from business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. to support Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s reelection bid for House speaker under the 20th Congress.
Valeriano, on the other hand, also mentioned the bribery allegation and another post in which Barzaga said it was God’s will that former Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop died so that “he may not continue his corruption any longer.”
According to Abalos, the ethics and privileges committee found Barzaga’s actions violative of the same grounds that led to his suspension for 60 days, effective on Dec. 1 last year.
These were violations of Section 141(a), Rule 20 of the Rules of House of Representatives; and Section 4(c) of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Stern warning
“After a thorough deliberation on the case, the committee finds that respondent Barzaga of the fourth district of Cavite committed repeated, escalating misconduct during the period of his suspension from office [between] Dec. 1, 2025 [and] Jan. 30, 2026 which reflected negatively upon the dignity, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives,” Abalos said.
“[The committee] recommends the imposition of another penalty of suspension from office of 60 days without the benefit of salaries and allowances. The imposition of penalty carries with it a stern warning that a repetition of another misconduct would warrant a more severe disciplinary action, including expulsion from office,” he added.
On Jan. 27, the House adopted a motion tasking the ethics and privileges committee to investigate Barzaga again over his social media posts, but the lawmaker said he would not attend the hearing, adding he would rather be expelled from the chamber.
According to Abalos, such actions undermined the House’s authority over its members and the duty of lawmakers to respect the committee.
Brazen disrespect
“The committee condemns Rep. Barzaga’s brazen disrespect for its authority. All members of the House of Representatives have the sworn duty to respect the committee on ethics’ rules of procedure and the authority of the House of Representatives to declare its disciplinary processes,” he said.
“Choosing to ignore the disciplinary proceedings of the committee on ethics […] ultimately undermines the House of Representatives as an institution,” he added.
Barzaga is also facing cyberlibel complaints filed separately by Razon, Valeriano, and NUP chair and House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno over his bribery allegations.
The rookie lawmaker’s first suspension stemmed from his alleged violation of rules governing the conduct of House members.
It was based on an ethics complaint also filed by the NUP, which cited his social media posts that were “unbefitting of a House member,” particularly those inciting hatred against the chamber and mocking his House colleagues, on top of lewd photos of himself with a scantily clad woman.
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