Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives expelled Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga as a member during the plenary session on Tuesday, June 2 over disorderly behavior, among others.
A total of 265 lawmakers were in favor of the report of the House committee on ethics and privileges, which recommended removing Barzaga from office.
Fourteen were against, while eight lawmakers abstained.
The ethics panel said Barzaga was guilty of disorderly behavior and found to have demonstrated conduct unbecoming of a member, and violated House rules.
It listed the offenses as:
- interrupting actual plenary sessions
- mockery of leadership, in particular former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez
- unauthorized and slanderous live broadcasts
“The formal investigation revealed substantial evidence that Rep. Barzaga engaged in a pattern of highly disruptive, discourteous, and disorderly behavior that directly obstructed plenary sessions and desecrated parliamentary solemnity,” committee chairperson and report sponsor Rep. JC Abalos said in his speech.
“With the representative having meted with 60-day suspensions in two instances, the committee considers that another penalty of suspension will not likely deter the improper behavior which continuously reflects negatively on the image of the House of Representatives,” he added.
Barzaga was suspended twice for his behavior and social media posts.
Members of the House, particularly those from the National Unity Party, were further angered after Barzaga supposedly mocked the late Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.
Others cited his practice of livestreaming from inside the chamber halls, where he reportedly referred to Congress as a “crocodile farm” and called lawmakers “buwaya” [crocodile].
The House previously warned Barzaga that any repeat offense of inappropriate behavior on social media or during formal proceedings could result in stiffer sanctions. The young lawmaker was unfazed.
Early Tuesday, June 2, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed a new ethics complaint against the Cavite representative over his social media posts that said the bureau plotted to assassinate a number of senators.
In a statement ahead of the decision posted on his Facebook page, Barzaga said he has no regrets, claiming he will “bring justice to the corrupt system.”
He was the next lawmaker to be expelled after Arnie Teves, who was tagged in the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
NewsWatch Plus multiplatform producer Faith Ragasa contributed to this report.
