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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Tighter security watch on Kiko Barzaga 'should seriously be discussed', says House leader

Tighter security watch on Kiko Barzaga 'should seriously be discussed', says House leader

Published Sep 25, 2025 08:52 am

At A Glance

  • Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin is open to the idea of placing the eccentric and unpredictable Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga under tighter security watch.
Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga (Facebook)
Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga (Facebook)


Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin is open to the idea of placing the eccentric and unpredictable Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga under tighter security watch.
"It's a point that should seriously be discussed," Garin told House reporters on Wednesday night, Sept. 24 just moments after a run-in with Barzaga in plenary.
"We'll ask our colleagues about that. Siguro may mga outside influence din (Maybe there are also outside influences at play)," she said when asked of the possibility of the self-proclaimed "congressmeow" turning violent.
Earlier, Garin told off the 27-year-old Barzaga for vlogging in plenary and shoving his phone in the face of presidential son, Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos.
Garin described Barzaga as very "anti-administration".
On his social media, the neophyte solon from Dasmariñas City has packaged himself as a white knight of sorts amid the public's outrage over the massive flood control projects corruption scandal.
"Kasi two things yan eh. Alam mo naman minsan sa isang gobyerno, may mga natutuwa kung maganda ang takbo ng bayan pero mayroon ding hindi natutuwa pag maganda ang takbo ng bayan," Garin said.
(Because it's two things. You know, sometimes in a government, there are those who are pleased when the country is doing well, but there are also those who are not pleased when the country is doing well.)
Without giving specifics, Garin said that Barzaga could "create a situation".
The deputy speaker--who has been Barzaga's seatmate in plenary for the past two weeks--also shared the latter's inordinate fascination with what happened to Nepal.
"Ang sabi ko, maganda na may pinaglalaban tayo. Pero napaka importante rin na tignan natin yung sitwasyon ng ating mga kababayan. Because any war will pull our country backwards for several years," she said.
(I said it's good that we have something to fight for. But it's also very important to look at the situation of our fellow citizens. Because any war will pull our country backwards for several years.)
"Kaya lang parang medyo ang sabi niiya, 'OK lang yan, OK lang yan...' Parang he doesn't mind. He's more keen on...yung orientation niya kasi eh (The thing is, he kind of said, 'That's OK, that's OK...' It's like he doesn't mind. He's more keen on... his orientation seems to be that), if there is war, if there is violence, parang it's something that satisfies him," Garin said of Barzaga.
Barzaga supported Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s candidacy during the 2022 presidential race.
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