Gen Z congressmen Barzaga, Co weigh in on alleged corruption in flood control projects

The continued conversations on the flood control projects have been a way to expose the alleged corruption in the Philippine government, leading to several protests.

This past week, things have shaken up in Congress, with Speaker Martin Romualdez resigning.

One of those who caught attention was Cavite 4th District Representative Cong. Kiko Barzaga who abstained from voting.

Barzaga was also spotted outside Romualdez's office, and was allegedly not allowed to enter.

"May pending meeting ako with Speaker Romualdez, kakausapin ko siya. Parang mag-ha-hi lang. So gusto kong sabihin sa kanya, 'Ay, bye-bye. Bye-bye, crocodile,'" Barzaga said on "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho."

["I have a pending meeting with Speaker Romualdez, I'm going to talk to him– like I'm just going to say hi. And then I want to tell him, 'Oh, bye-bye. Bye-bye, crocodile.'"]

He added that he wanted to tease him because "I mean, natalo ko siya. Sabi ko, I call for the investigation of Speaker. So ngayon mawawala na siya as Speaker. So, s'yempre, sasabihin ko, 'Ganyan, ganyan 'yung mangyayari sa ating mga corrupt na official.'"

["I mean, I defeated him. I said, 'I call for the investigation of the Speaker.' And now he’s no longer the Speaker. So, of course, I’ll say, ‘This is what happens to our corrupt officials.”]

Barzaga said he has "some personal knowledge" about Romualdez being corrupt.

"But even if I were to reveal everything, even if I were to show a whole video of him stealing money, he will not be imprisoned because he is the cousin of the President," he said.

"Either nagnakaw siya ng hundreds of billions, so he's already wrong. Or hinayaan lang niyang manakaw ‘yung hundreds of billions of flood control projects. Then either way, he should also be investigated as Speaker if he failed to stop congressmen from stealing hundreds of billions under his watch," Barzaga added.

["Either he stole hundreds of billions, so he's already wrong. Or he allowed the hundreds of billions for flood control projects to be stolen. Either way, he should be investigated as Speaker if he failed to stop congressmen from stealing hundreds of billions under his watch."]

Barzaga said that he got the courage to speak up because "I just wanted to see if I am capable of defeating the two most powerful people in the Philippines."

Barzaga is the son of the late Cong. Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr. The Gen Z congressman is only 27 years old. His mother is the current Dasmariñas City Mayor Jennifer "Jenny" Austria-Barzaga.

Because of this, Barzaga is often called a nepo baby. Recently, he was criticized for his social media photos that were deemed unethical or insensitive.

"Kasi if nepo baby is someone who's a son of a congressman or of a mayor or part of a political family, then by all definition, by all means, I am a nepo baby by that definition," he said, and added that he has not been involved in any cases, making him clean.

He was also criticized for sharing photos of luxuries and photos with women.

"Firstly, it's not a luxury kasi 'yung mga nag-headlock sa akin na babae, ano 'yun 'yung sa cosplay event 'yun tapos kasama 'yun sa mga fan service nila. Like puwede kang magpa-picture sa kanila na nakaganon tapos bibigyan mo ng mga 100 pesos," he said.

["It's not a luxury. The women who put me in a headlock were at a cosplay event, and it was part of their fan service. You could have your picture taken with them like that if you gave them about 100 pesos.”]

He was also called out for his constant meowing and overall attitude, especially by Congressman Janette Garin.

"Si Congresswoman, very friendly naman siya, seatmate ko siya lagi sa Rules Committee. And mukhang happy naman siya doon nu’ng nag-meow meow meow ako. Nag-meow meow din siya sa akin. So siguro medyo na-offend lang siya kasi nasama siya sa video tapos 'yung mga comments may mga against sa kanya," Barzaga said.

["Congresswoman Garin is very friendly– she's always my seatmate in the Rules Committee. She even seemed happy when I was meowing, and she meowed back at me. Maybe she just got a little offended because she was included in the video, and some of the comments were directed against her.”]

Congressman Ronaldo Puno previously insinuated that Barzaga may also be mentally unfit.

He responds, "Well, first of all, si Congressman Puno hindi siya isang doktor or any form of medical professional. So, he has no basis of saying that. And secondly, siguro, crazy talaga ang nalaman kay Romualdez last week. Kasi siya 'yung pinakamalakas na tao sa buong Pilipinas noon. Siya at si Marcos. Silang dalawa 'yung may control ng buong budget. Sila 'yung pinaka-mastermind ng lahat ng masamang nangyari nung flood control. And going against them, parang it's political suicide."

[“Congressman Puno is not a doctor or any kind of medical professional, so he has no basis for saying that. And secondly, maybe what was uncovered about Romualdez last week was really insane. He was the most powerful person in the entire Philippines back then– he and Marcos. The two of them controlled the entire budget. They were the masterminds behind all the corruption in the flood control projects. And going against them is like political suicide."]

Barzaga added, "And it's not just political suicide, it's also personal suicide. Kasi baka mamaya patayin nila ako or ipakulong nila ako. Only a crazy person could do such a thing. But sometimes, it takes crazy people to change corrupt systems."

["And it's not just political suicide, it's also personal suicide. Because they could kill me or have me jailed. Only a crazy person would dare do such a thing. But sometimes, it takes crazy people to change corrupt systems."]

Barzaga set the record straight that he is not diagnosed with any mental health condition and passed "all forms of neurological tests."

Asked if he promises not to steal or do corrupt acts, Barzaga says, "We will see." Knowing that he would possibly be charged in the future, he said, "Yes, and I hope you do the same to all my fellow congressmen and all other public officials."

Cong. Renee Co

Among the strongest critics condemning the anomalous projects is Kabataan Partylist Representative-elect Atty. Renee Co. Last Tuesday, she also went against Vice President Sara Duterte at the budget hearing.

Co, born in 1997, said it matters that there are Gen Z representatives in Congress.

"Fresh po 'yung perspective na dinadala ng Gen Z. Pero kailangan din tingnan kung ano 'yung mga political na paninindigan at uring pinagmulan namin," Co said on "KMJS."

[“The perspective that Gen Z brings is fresh. But we also need to look at our political convictions and the social class we come from.”]

"Dahil with all due respect to Rep. Kiko Barzaga, he is also part of a political dynasty. 'Yung mga young Congress people namin nandito are also part of political dynasties."

["With all due respect to Rep. Kiko Barzaga, he is also part of a political dynasty. The young congresspeople we have here are also part of political dynasties."]

"Marami rin pong hindi bahagi ng political dynasties. Pero sa Gen Z siguro, sa limang 'yun, parang ako lang po 'yung hindi part ng political dynasty," she added.

["Of course, many aren't part of political dynasties. But among the five of us from Gen Z, I think I’m the only one who isn’t part of one."]

As compared to Barzaga who calls himself a disruptor, Co says she is "makabayan."

"And beyond disrupting, there's also in an organized way, pagbubuo ng mga links with other people para madirehe ang pagbabago ng sistema. So, hindi lang natin gustong i-expose 'yung kabulukan ng sistema. Pero gusto din natin, lahat tayo ay papunta sa isang direksyon na hindi na muli babalik 'yung ganitong klaseng sistema," she said.

[“There's also the organized way of building links with other people beyond just disruption, to direct a change in the system. We don't just want to expose the rot – we want to ensure we are all moving in one direction so that this kind of system never returns.”]

Co is also the subject of instant memes.

"Nagulat rin po ako doon dahil simpleng search lang at malalaman na po na hindi ko kaanu-ano si Rep. Zaldy Co. Out of order nga 'yung question na 'yun. Pero wala akong tinatago. Hindi ko sila kaanu-ano at sinasagot ko ang mga tanong nang diretso," Co said.

["I was surprised by that because a simple search would show that I’m not related to Rep. Zaldy Co. That question was out of order. I have nothing to hide. They are not my relatives, and I answer questions directly."]

"Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Vice President Sara Duterte na may mga tanong kami sa paggasta ng kanyang opisina at pinaiikot pa kami, iiwas pa kami sa pagsagot."

["Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for Vice President Sara Duterte. We have questions about her office's spending, but we are being given the runaround.”]

Co said that the alleged corruption does not just happen in Congress, given that the projects have the signature of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"May paglobo ng mga bahagi ng budget na dati dapat ay may sure funding na pero ilalagay nila sa waitlist ng popondohan kasi ang uunahin nilang pondohan ay what is Congressional insertions from the Senate, from the House. Merong kickbacks 'yung mga lahat ng nagko-collude sa sistema natin," she said.

["There's an increase in the parts of the budget that should have had sure funding before, but they'll put them on a waiting list for funding because they'll prioritize what are Congressional insertions from the Senate, from the House. There are kickbacks for everyone who colludes in our system,"]

"So ngayon, si President Marcos Jr. siya na rin mismo 'yung nag-shine ng spotlight ng gawain na ito. May gusto siyang narrative na i-promote na baka hugas kamay, hindi ko alam na nangyayari pala itong lahat. Pero ang katotohanan ay dahil siya ang may puno't dulong permission na mag-go ang buong budget," Co added.

[“President Marcos Jr. himself is shining a spotlight on this. He wants to push a narrative that he didn’t know. But the truth is, he has the ultimate power to approve the entire budget.”]

Co then shared the current system in Congress. There are congressmen usually concentrating around regions. The most powerful one is Region 1, or President Marcos' region. Other powerful officials and regions include Vice President Sara Duterte in Davao.

Then in Region 1, the Department of Agriculture's farm to market roads that should be P16 billion, P100 million was asked.

"And then in-admit naman po ni Department of Agriculture Secretary na kahit merong national plan for farm to market roads, ang nagdidikta kung sino ang bubuuan ng roads ay mga kongresista. Sino 'yung makapag-lobby at sino 'yung ga-grant-an ng lobby. Nakita natin na Region 1 'yung binigay," Co said.

[“The Department of Agriculture Secretary admitted that even though there's a national plan for farm-to-market roads, it's the congressmen who dictate which roads will be built. It depends on who can lobby and who will be granted the lobby. We saw that Region 1 was given the allocation."]

Co emphasized that there is a show of strength depending on power blocs, which is a system she's up against as a partylist representative.

"Well, not more than once ay naisip ko nakakasuka pala dito. Pero pinanghahawakan ko na 'yung mga kampanya sa labas ng Ivory Towers na 'to, platform ang mga posisyon namin para palakasin yung panawagan nila," Co said.

[“Well, I've thought that this is disgusting. But I hold on to the fact that the campaigns outside of these ivory towers, our positions are platforms to amplify their calls."]

Co added that it is important to be vigilant.

"At ang challenge sa mga kongresista, dumikit sa mga organisasyong masa. Ano 'yung panawagan nila? Doon tayo sa ano 'yung ikabubuti." Co said.

[“The challenge for congressmen is to stick with mass organizations. What are their calls? Let's go with what is for the common good."]

Co said that in a country like the Philippines where poverty is a major issue, congressmen need to head down to the masses to understand the causes.

"Dahil siguro, we, the House of Representatives, puro political dynasties ang nakaupo sa posisyon. Puro mga contractors na may malalaking businesses at malalaking kapital nang na-establish at nakamkam. Karamihan ng mga nandito ay hindi galing sa mga maralita at mahihirap na backgrounds. Hindi nila alam ang totoong kalam ng tiyan. Pero sa sistema ng politika dito sa Pilipinas, hindi natin nakikita na responsive naman ang mga nasa kapangyarihan," Co said.

["Maybe it's because we, the House of Representatives, are mostly made up of political dynasties. Mostly contractors with large, established businesses and accumulated capital. The majority of the people here don't come from poor or marginalized backgrounds. They don't know the real feeling of an empty stomach. But in the political system here in the Philippines, we don't see those in power being responsive.”]

"So kailangan po talagang may tunay na pagbabago whether it is in prohibiting political dynasties, gawing batas ito, 'yung mas malakas na pagpapanagot sa mga kurakot, kailangan gawin at pabilisin, etc.," she added. 

[“So, there really needs to be genuine change, whether it's in prohibiting political dynasties by making it a law, or having stronger accountability for the corrupt; it needs to be done, and done quickly."]—Nika Roque/MGP, GMA Integrated News