Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a fresh ethics complaint against Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga for his social media posts about the Senate shooting on May 13. Barzaga has already been suspended by the House of Representatives twice for his conduct and online behavior.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag personally filed the complaint against the neophyte lawmaker before the Office of the House Secretary General on Tuesday, June 2.
In an interview with reporters, Matibag said the complaint stemmed from at least nine social media posts from Barzaga on the Senate gunfire incident, which the NBI said discredited their agency.
Matibag presented a screenshot of a post from Barzaga claiming that the Senate shooting may have been an assassination attempt to change the leadership.
Investigation is underway on the gunfire scare that occurred in the Senate amid the pending arrest warrant of fugitive senator Bato dela Rosa, who at the time was under the institutional protective custody. He later on escaped the Senate premises and went into hiding again.
Matibag said Barzaga’s behavior warrants removal from public office.
“Personally yes…his behavior says so…I think it’s not proper behavior of a congressman,” he stated, when asked if he believes Barzaga should be expelled.
Matibag said Barzaga’s posts do not fall under the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.
“Kapag criminal na ang ginagawa mong behavior, [if your behavior is criminal] it no longer falls under the freedom of expression,” he stated.
The House of Representatives has suspended Barzaga twice over his conduct and social media posts. In April, House deputy speaker Janette Garin warned that the lawmaker may be expelled after seeing no improvements in his behavior despite the suspension.
Matibag noted that the NBI may also file criminal charges against Barzaga, including complaints for inciting to sedition and violations of the code of conduct and ethical standards for public officials.
In a social media post, Barzaga accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of instructing the NBI to file an ethics complaint against him.
