House Deputy Speaker Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno  finally addressed the elephant in the room regarding the unhinged behavior of Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga.

In a press conference with fellow senior National Unity Party (NUP) members on Monday afternoon, Sept. 15, Puno described Rep. Barzaga as "not well" at least half a dozen times.

This, as Puno bared that the NUP--the second largest party in the House of Representatives next only to Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)--would be filing a complaint soon against Rep. Barzaga before the Committee on Ethics.

Puno said it was painful for party to arrive at this decision, and that it wasn't unanimous among the members. This was because the 27-year-old solon's late father, Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga, was a beloved founder of the NUP.

"I know he is not well. But we cannot allow this behavior to be unresponded eh," said the Antipolo City solon.

As Puno kept on using the praise "not well" to refer to Rep. Barzaga in the presser, the reporters were forced to ask the deputy speaker whether or not he was alluding to mental capacity.

"Para sa akin (For me), something's not right. Pero hindi ako doctor no (But I'm not doctor)," Puno said of the Dasmariñas City lawmaker.

Rep. Barzaga--the self-proclaimed "congressmeow" with an inordinate fondness for cats--resigned from the NUP last week after being linked to an alleged plot to unseat House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The NUP is a staunch backer of Romualdez.

After that, Rep. Barzaga has been on a tear on Facebook, posting insults and tirades multiple times a day against Romualdez, President Marcos, and other high--ranking officials such as Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson Sr.

Even Cabinet members such as secretaries Vince Dizon, Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla, Jonvic Remulla, and Gibo Teodoro were also not spared from his socia media posting. He also kept promoting the hashtag #RomualdezVsPhilippines.

Getting wind about the ethics case, Barzaga responded to Puno where else? On Facebook. He wrote: "Chairman Puno is mistaken, l am the one calling for peace. He is too detached from the common people that he became unaware of the lengths an oppressed citizen will go to get justice."

The NUP said the complaint outlines four serious causes of action: (1) violation of the House Code of Conduct; (2) violation of Republic Act (RA) No. 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees; (3) unethical conduct that potentially violates Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code (Inciting to Sedition); and (4) conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

"The words and conduct of a Congressman are not ordinary. They carry weight, authority, and influence. When spoken responsibly, they can inspire. When spoken recklessly, they can destroy," Puno said.

He added: "Masakit ang loob ko, hindi mainit ang ulo ko. Anak ni Pidi ito eh (I am hurt, I am not mad. This is Pidi's son we're talking about)."

But the deputy speaker was visibly incensed when he raised Rep. Barzaga's other Facebook posts, this time on lewd pictures and the downright objectification of women.

In his presentation to the media, Puno pulled up older uploads that showed the latter's photos with scantily-clad girls, including ones that were set up like a strip show.

"Look at the photos he is posting. Yan ba ay gawain ng matinong ccngressman? (Will a congressman in his right mind do that?)" Puno asked.

"Kailangan magsalita tayo, hindi pwede yung ganyan. Hindi pwedeng babuyin ang mga kababaihan natin nang ganyan, di ba? (We need to speak out, we can't allow that. Our women can't be violated like, right?)

"We live is a decent society, we're trying to develop good moral character in our children. This is not helping. And he is a congressman!" Puno further said.

The Antipolo legislator shared that Rep. Barzaga's mother and predecessor, current Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga, was informed of the NUP's decision beforehand.

"Kinausap namin ang nanay, ang sabi niya, 'Hindi ko makontrol yung bata eh (We've spoken to his mother, and she said, 'I can't control the kid).' But somebody has to discipline this boy. We cannot allow this to be propagated as if it is normal," said Puno.