Cavite solon denies suspected drug pusher is his grandson

Dasmariñas Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. has belied reports that suspected drug pusher Harrel Barzaga Gatuz is his grandson, although he admitted that they were distant relatives.

“Harrel Barzaga is not my direct descendant,”  Barzaga said in a privilege speech Tuesday. “He is the direct descendant of my cousin Norberto R. Barzaga, whom the compound where the apprehension took place was named after.”

Several news reports about Gatuz's arrest identified him as Barzaga's grandson.

The 39-year-old suspect and four other unidentified individuals were arrested by agents from the National Bureau of Investigation's anti-drug division on Feb. 6 after they were caught in the act of using drugs inside the Barzaga compound in Cavite.

With Norberto being his fourth-degree relative along the collateral line, Barzaga said he and Gatuz are far distant sixth-degree relatives.

The lawmaker noted it was impossible for Gatuz to be his grandson as his children are still young. He also denied he had sired a child out of wedlock.

“I can categorically state that I do not have any offspring born out of wedlock and my eldest child will turn 17 this September. Therefore, the claim that Harrel is my grandson defies logic and reason,” Barzaga said.

Barzaga lamented how the media feasted on his supposed link to Gatuz to spice up their reports.

“Kung ilalagay sa pahayagan at telebisyon na ang apo ng pinsan ni Congressman Pidi Barzaga ay nahuli sa droga, hindi mabigat ang dating at mawawalan ng interes ang ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

In light of the trouble he went through as a “victim of the freedom of the press,” Barzaga called on the House of Representatives to look into the incident so the NBI would be more careful in releasing unverified information to the media.

“Otherwise, misleading reports from a law enforcement agency such as the NBI definitely pose danger to elected public officials like us and even to private individuals,” he said.

The lawmaker said he decided to speak up and clear his name on behalf of all government officials whose reputation might be tarnished because they are maliciously linked to wrongdoing in news reports.

Barzaga also called on the media to be responsible in its reporting. —Xianne Arcangel/KBK, GMA News