Suspended Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga's mockery of the recent death of Antipolo City 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop didn't go unnoticed by the mighty National Unity Party (NUP).

But instead of going all-out to teach Barzaga another hard lesson on manners and respect, the NUP--still mourning Acop's passing last Dec. 20--chose a more merciful approach in handling the abrasive "congressmeow".

On Thursday, Jan. 8, several members of the party who previously lodged an ethics complaint against Barzaga filed a manifestation and motion through counsel before the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

Specifically, the party stalwarts are asking the panel to require a "comprehensive fitness determination" Barzaga is allowed to resume legislative functions, as they cited his continued publication of inflammatory and disorderly content online despite the disciplinary sanctions previously imposed by the House of Representatives.

It was last Dec. 1 when the House plenary adopted Committee Report No. 28, which found Barzaga liable for misconduct under the House Code of Conduct and Republic Act (RA) No. 6713.

Imposed on the eccentric rookie congressman was a 60-day suspension without salaries and allowances, together with a stern warning that repetition of similar misconduct would warrant more severe disciplinary action.

Barzaga was supposed to report back to the lower chamber in early February, just in time for the resumption of sessions after the holiday break.

The manifestation and motion cites posts that include, among others, the mockery and vilification of the late Acop, statements ridiculing tributes offered to him, the posting of crude and objectifying remarks involving women, the dissemination of inflammatory political commentary through official platforms, and the exploitation of the death of another public official to advance an unfounded conspiracy narrative.

In the case of Acop's death, Barzaga announced it via video message on Facebook with a huge smile on his face, as if he was sharing a positive development. The Cavite solon also linked the former House quad-committee (quad-comm) overall vice chairman to corruption despite presenting zero evidence.

The petitioners argue that--taken together with Barzaga's prior misconduct already on record--these acts demonstrate a continuing disregard for the authority of the ethics panel and a continuing assault on the dignity of the House of Representatives.

"The complainants emphasized that disciplinary sanctions must be corrective in effect, and that continued misconduct even after formal discipline raises serious questions as to whether respondent is prepared to discharge the duties of a legislator in accordance with the standards of conduct required by law and House rules," a statement from NUP read.

They said the committee must require Barzaga to undergo a comprehensive fitness determination in order to assess whether or not he is physically, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally prepared to perform his duties in accordance with proper decorum.

"The complainants emphasized that the filing does not ask for the plenary to impose a new penalty, which remains within the authority of the House in plenary session.

"Rather, it invokes the committee’s supervisory and fact-finding jurisdiction to ensure that institutional safeguards are in place before a member returns to legislative work after having been disciplined for conduct found to discredit the House," the NUP explained.

The motion is anchored on the House’s constitutional authority to discipline its members under Article VI, Section 16(3) of the 1987 Constitution, and on the Committee’s continuing jurisdiction over matters affecting conduct, dignity, and institutional integrity under the House Rules.

The complainants reiterated that the House of Representatives must maintain the standards that distinguish it as an institution worthy of public respect,

The NUP is the second largest political party in the House of Representatives, next only to the dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD). Barzaga is an ex-NUP stalwart.