BARZAGA (FB)
DAVAO CITY – Davao lawmakers strongly opposed on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the reported extension of the suspension of Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
Reps. Paolo Duterte (first district), Omar Vincent Duterte (second district), Isidro Ungab (third district), and Harold Duterte of the PPP party-list slammed Barzaga’s suspension in a joint letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Dy III.
The group warned that the move to extend Barzaga’s suspension undermines both constitutional rights and the will of voters who elected him to represent the fourth district of Cavite.
They emphasized that a “handful of members” of the House Committee on Ethics should not override the mandate given to Barzaga by his constituents. “His mandate comes from the people.”
Ungab and the four Dutertes stressed that Barzaga’s authority to serve in Congress comes from the electorate, not from what they described as the “shifting sensibilities” of his colleagues.
They also cited constitutional protections on free expression, arguing that political speech—even when critical or uncomfortable—should not be treated as a punishable offense in a democratic system.
They maintained that disputes over alleged wrongdoing or defamation should be resolved through the courts, not by the Ethics Committee acting as a judge of acceptable political opinion.
They reaffirmed their support for Barzaga and urged respect for Cavite voters who elected him. They said they would oppose the move and vote “no” if the issue reaches the House plenary.
“Disciplinary powers must never be used to silence dissent or override the democratic choice of the people,” said the joint statement signed by the four Davao lawmakers.
The letter was issued as the House ethics committee, led by 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos, prepares to decide if they will extend Barzaga’s two-month suspension or remove him from office.
Barzaga’s suspension stemmed from his claims that his former National Unity Party colleagues accepted bribes from businessman Enrique Razon during the July 2025 speakership race that elected Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
Barzaga was first suspended for 60 days last December over what the committee described as inappropriate social media posts and misconduct during plenary sessions.
The Cavite lawmaker did not attend the closed-door hearing last Tuesday called after Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano sought a reinvestigation, citing Barzaga’s continued controversial online posts.