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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace hits back at Barzaga: He's using Marcos' name to justify his acts

Palace hits back at Barzaga: He's using Marcos' name to justify his acts

Published Dec 2, 2025 03:21 pm
Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Malacañang has accused Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga, who is facing a 60-day suspension at the House of Representatives, of using President Marcos' name to justify his acts of disinformation.
"[S]a ating nakikita rito, ginagamit lamang ang pangalan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para ma-justify ang kanyang mga ginagawang disinformation (What we are seeing here is that he is only using the name of President Marcos Jr. to justify the disinformation that he has been doing)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
In a statement on Monday, following his suspension, Barzaga  said he respects the decision and stressed that "whatever punishment may fall upon me and others who stand against this President who has lost his Constitutional Mandate of serving the people is inconsequential in relation to the amount of lives and futures that will be saved when President Marcos leaves Malacañang."
He added that "my punishment is only the beginning of our fight against the corrupt administration," adding that he will fight corruption even in the face of imprisonment and death.
Castro pointed out that the President did not have anything to do with him, especially when he made the posts that led to his suspension.
"Unang-una po, iyong mga lewd photos na kanyang pinost, hindi naman po kasama ang Pangulo noong ito ay kanyang ginawa. Hindi naman kasama ang Pangulo noong ito’y pinost at iyong mga sinasabi niyang mga diumanong disinformation laban sa AFP, hindi rin po yata kasama ang Pangulo sa kanyang mga diumanong disinformation (First of all, regarding the lewd photos that he posted, the President was not involved when he did that. The President was not involved when he posted them, and with the alleged disinformation he claims was directed against the AFP, it seems the President was also not involved in his supposed disinformation)," Castro said.
The Palace official also distanced Malacañang from Barzaga's suspension, saying it was the decision of the House of Representatives and they respect it.
"Desisyon po iyan ng House of Representatives, so iyan po ay nalaman na po kung ano pong naging desisyon. So, iginagalang po ng Pangulo kung anuman ang desisyon ng House of Representatives (That is a decision of the House of Representatives, so the outcome of that decision is already known. The President respects whatever decision the House of Representatives make)," Castro said.
Barzaga was suspended via  249-5-11 (yes-no-abstain) vote for actions considered "disorderly" and "unbecoming" of a congressman.

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Kiko Barzaga suspension House of Representatives President Marcos Claire Castro
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