Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga may have been exploited by some parties to push their “self-seeking political agenda.”

Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga (Facebook)

Lacson said this on Friday, October 3 saying he sympathizes for the lawmaker’s mother, Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga who may have her hands full serving her constituents while dealing with some forces who are using her son to sow malice into the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation into the controversies surrounding government flood control projects.

The senator said that while it was the younger Barzaga who posted a months-old photo of Lacson with the Discaya couple last October 1, he could not have done that without someone providing him with that photo.

“I feel for our dear friend, Mayor Jenny Barzaga. As the mayor of Dasmariñas City, she must have her hands full serving her constituents,” Lacson said in a post on X.

“The last thing she needs is the evil-mindedness of people who use her son Kiko’s mental state to advance their self-seeking political agenda,” he added.

https://x.com/iampinglacson/status/1973900977012158575

Earlier, Lacson debunked insinuations about a photo circulating showing him with the Discayas, saying it was taken during the campaign period, or way before the start of the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

He recalled that a supporter from Davao City accompanied the Discayas to invite him to a political rally but he declined the invitation.

“As the saying goes, a picture paints a thousand words. Obviously, I didn't know them before that photo was taken,” he said.

Lacson, who chairs the Blue Ribbon Committee, said he believes the posting of the photo was likely meant to discredit the Senate’s investigation into the issue.