NUP pushes ethics plaint vs ‘disorderly’ Barzaga
The National Unity Party (NUP) has asked the ethics committee of the House of Representatives to first establish whether suspended Cavite Rep. Francisco Barzaga is fit to resume his legislative functions, as his 60-day suspension for misconduct is set to lapse next month.
The party, once led by Barzaza’s father, Elpidio, when he was still alive, said that the neophyte congressman continued to publish “inflammatory and disorderly content” in various media despite the disciplinary sanctions imposed by the chamber.
The younger Barzaga, an NUP member until 2025, was once an assistant majority leader under House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.
Fitness test
The NUP members, who were also the same lawmakers behind the ethics complaint that triggered Barzaga’s suspension last Dec. 1, said such a test would determine whether the Cavite lawmaker was “physically, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally prepared to discharge the duties of a Member of Congress in a manner consistent with the House Code of Conduct.”
Barzaga faced an earlier ethics complaint for supposedly violating the House code of conduct and Republic Act No. 6713 for, among others, his social media posts inciting hatred against the chamber, mocking his House colleagues, acting out in the plenary hall, posting lewd photos of himself with a scantily clad woman and of himself flaunting cold cash, among others.
Just this week, Barzaga accused NUP members of receiving bribes from tycoon Enrique Razon in exchange for supporting the reelection of former Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 20th Congress last July.
Discredit to House
On Dec. 1, the chamber voted 249-5-11 to suspend Barzaga for 60 days without pay. Since then, the NUP said, Barzaga still used his verified and official social media accounts to “publish content that continues to reflect discreditably upon the House and undermine the ethical standards expected of members of Congress.”
This includes, among others, mocking the late Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, who passed on Dec. 20 due to a heart attack; posting crude and objectifying remarks involving women, “inflammatory political commentary,” as well as fanning conspiracy theories about the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, who was found dead in a ravine in Benguet province last Dec. 17.
“These acts demonstrate a continuing disregard for the authority of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges and a continuing assault on the dignity of the House of Representatives,” the petition said.
“Continued misconduct, even after formal discipline, raises serious questions as to whether Respondent is prepared to discharge the duties of a legislator in accordance with the standards of conduct required by law and House rules,” they added.
When his suspension was handed down, Barzaga was warned that repeat offenses would warrant a more severe punishment.
