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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Mindanao devider Davao City solons slam Barzaga suspension

Davao City solons slam Barzaga suspension

Published Dec 3, 2025 05:19 pm
BARZAGA (FB)
BARZAGA (FB)
DAVAO CITY – Four lawmakers from Davao City, including a party-list representative, slammed the House of Representatives’ decision to suspend Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga for 60 days without pay starting Wednesday, Dec. 3, over allegedly inappropriate social media posts.
In a joint statement, Rep. Paolo Duterte (first district), Rep. Omar Duterte (second District), Rep. Isidro Ungab (third district), and Rep. Harold James Duterte (PPP party-list) said the suspension sends a “troubling signal” that sharp criticism of those in power can now be punished as “disorderly behavior” instead of being addressed through open debate.
They questioned the speed of the proceedings, noting that the complaint originated from Barzaga’s former party, the National Unity Party. They warned that the action appeared to be driven more by “political payback” than a fair evaluation of his conduct.
They also flagged the Ethics Committee’s conclusion that Barzaga’s posts damaged the “dignity” of the House, arguing that it relied on an overly broad interpretation of what lawmakers can or cannot say online.
They stated that the decision comes at a time when Filipinos are facing economic challenges, lingering concerns about peace and order, and unresolved allegations of corruption in government spending, including those related to flood control and significant infrastructure projects.
“In such a climate, silencing a critic does nothing to restore trust; it only deepens public suspicion that uncomfortable questions are being swept aside,” they said.
The Davao City lawmakers backed the five congressmen who voted against the suspension and the 11 who abstained. They urged colleagues to join an ongoing “good-faith search for the truth” and to pursue accountability wherever evidence leads.
“We owe it to our constituents and to future generations,” they said. “The search for truth must continue.”

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