Palace: Kiko Barzaga using Marcos' name to justify disinformation that he's doing

Suspended Cavite 4th district Representative Kiko Barzaga is supposedly using the name of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. to justify the disinformation he is allegedly spreading. 

This was according to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro when asked for reaction after the House of Representatives had adopted the recommendation by the House Ethics Committee to suspend Barzaga. 

Castro said the President respects the House decision. 

''Desisyon po 'yan ng House of Representatives, nalaman na po kung ano ang naging decision so ginagalang po ng Pangulo kung ano man ang decision ng House of Representatives,'' Castro said. 

(That's the decision of the House of Representatives so the President respects whatever the decision is.) 

When asked about the insinuation of Barzaga that he was suspended as he is a fierce critic of the administration, Castro said the President respects the decision of the body.

''In other words, sinasabit niya ang pangalan ng Pangulo dahil sa kanyang pagkakasuspinde? Unang-una po 'yung mga lewd photos na kanyang pinost, hindi naman po kasama ang Pangulo noong ito ay kanyang ginawa... Hindi naman kasama ang Pangulo noong ito'y pinost,'' Castro said.

(In other words he was implicating the President over his suspension? First of all, the President was not involved in the lewd photos that he posted.)

The President was also not involved as regards Barzaga's disinformation against the Philippine military, according to Castro.

''Sa ating nakikita dito ginagamit lamang ang pangalan ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para majustify ang kanyang mga ginagawang disinformation,'' Castro said. 

(From what we see, he is using the President to justify the disinformation that he is doing.) 

Two hundred forty-nine members voted in the affirmative, five in the negative, and 11 abstained in suspending Barzaga. 

House ethics committee chairperson 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos said the 60-day suspension also comes without salaries and allowances throughout the period. 

Barzaga is being accused of violating the Code of Conduct for public officials and employees over posts on his Facebook page that were allegedly inappropriate, showed disrespect to some government officials, and seemingly prompted setting the House of Representatives on fire by cautioning the public against burning down Batasang Pambansa until employees and documents have been evacuated.

Barzaga had said that he accepts any penalty that must be imposed on him. Still, he believes that the President ''must be held accountable for his crimes.'' — RSJ, GMA Integrated News