The political gloves are officially off for suspended Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, as House Deputy Speaker and National Unity Party (NUP) chair Ronaldo Puno moves to expel the embattled lawmaker from Congress—citing a pattern of “unrepentant defiance,” inflammatory social media posts, and alleged damage to the institution’s integrity.
In a strongly worded interview with reporters on Friday, Puno declared that Barzaga’s behavior has gone beyond mere misconduct and now threatens the very credibility of the House of Representatives.
“He does not seem to have learned his lesson from his suspension—and has even ratcheted up his bad behavior,” Puno said. “He’s ignoring everything, mocking Congress, and creating confusion. We really have to make an example of somebody who just absolutely defies everything that Congress does.”
Puno, who represents Antipolo City and leads the second-largest party in the House, confirmed that NUP is preparing to file a formal motion to expel Barzaga entirely—a rare and severe disciplinary measure that requires a two-thirds vote of all House members.
From Suspension to Possible Expulsion
Barzaga is currently serving a 60-day suspension imposed last year after an ethics complaint filed by Puno and fellow NUP lawmakers accused him of publicly alleging that party members accepted bribes from billionaire businessman Enrique Razon in exchange for supporting Speaker Martin Romualdez’s reelection bid in July 2025.
The claim—made repeatedly in Facebook posts and interviews—has now triggered legal consequences far beyond the halls of Congress.
On January 14, 2026, Razon filed a cyberlibel complaint before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, seeking P110 million in damages (P100M moral + P10M exemplary) over two viral posts in which Barzaga labeled Razon the “mastermind behind the corruption in Congress” and accused him of orchestrating cash payouts at Solaire Resort to secure NUP votes.
Razon’s legal team emphasized that Romualdez ran unopposed and secured a supermajority in the speakership election—making any alleged bribery “factually baseless and malicious.”
“There was no contest. No opposition. No need for backroom deals,” a Razon spokesperson told Balitang Huli. “These are reckless fabrications designed to smear reputations.”
A Pattern of Controversial Conduct
Barzaga’s troubles didn’t begin with the Razon allegations. His conduct has long raised eyebrows inside the House:
- Posting lewd photos with a scantily clad woman
- Flaunting stacks of cold cash on social media
- Mocking colleagues during plenary sessions
- Making incendiary posts accusing fellow lawmakers of corruption
- Violating Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct for Public Officials)
All these formed the basis of an earlier ethics complaint that led to his current suspension.
Now, NUP is taking it further. The party has formally requested the House Ethics Committee—chaired by 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos—to require Barzaga to undergo a comprehensive fitness evaluation before he can resume his duties post-suspension.
“We’re not just talking about discipline—we’re questioning whether he’s fit to hold public office at all,” a senior NUP source told Balitang Huli, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Political Fallout and Legacy Questions
The move carries deep political weight. Barzaga is the son of the late Elpidio Barzaga, a respected NUP stalwart who once chaired the powerful House Committee on Justice. His fall from grace marks a dramatic rupture between the Barzaga political legacy and the party that once championed it.
Analysts say the push for expulsion is also a signal from the House leadership: disruptive behavior—even from elected officials—will no longer be tolerated in an era where public trust in institutions is fragile.
“Congress is trying to project stability ahead of the 2028 elections,” said political science professor Dr. Lina Mercado of UP Diliman. “Allowing someone like Barzaga to keep flouting norms undermines that effort. Expulsion would be drastic—but not unprecedented.”
Only three members have ever been expelled from the Philippine House since 1987—most notably in cases involving treason or conviction for serious crimes. Barzaga’s case would test whether repeated ethical breaches and digital misconduct can meet that threshold.
Barzaga Remains Silent
As of press time, Barzaga has not issued a public statement responding to Puno’s call for expulsion. His social media accounts, however, remain active—though recent posts have been limited to generic quotes about “truth” and “justice.”
His office in Cavite declined to comment, citing the ongoing suspension.
What Happens Next?
The expulsion process, if initiated, would begin with a formal resolution filed on the House floor. It would then go to the Ethics Committee for investigation before returning to the plenary for a vote.
Given NUP’s alliance with the ruling Lakas-CMD bloc and Speaker Romualdez’s firm control over the chamber, Barzaga’s chances of surviving such a vote appear slim.
For now, all eyes are on the House as it weighs whether to take the extraordinary step of ejecting one of its own—not for a crime, but for what leaders call “a sustained assault on decorum, truth, and institutional dignity.”
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