After getting suspended, Kiko Barzaga takes down questionable socmed posts

Following the House of Representatives’ decision to suspend him for 60 days, Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga has taken down his questionable social media posts that were previously flagged by the House ethics committee.

Barzaga confirmed this in a message to GMA Integrated News.

In a recommendation adopted by the House plenary, the House ethics panel gave Barzaga 24 hours from the time of voting to take down his social media posts showing “ostentatious displays of wealth” and lewd photos.

In a press conference, House ethics committee chair and 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos belied speculations that the panel railroaded the decision to suspend Barzaga.

Barzaga was meted a 60-day suspension on three grounds: violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and conduct unbecoming a member of the House of Representatives.

On Monday, the House voted 249-5-11 to suspend the neophyte lawmaker, who accepted the decision.

Abalos denied that the panel was influenced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the constant subject of Barzaga’s criticisms.

Abalos said the committee even scheduled a special hearing just to accommodate the neophyte Cavite legislator.

He explained that upon acquiring jurisdiction over the ethics complaint against Barzaga on September 17, the House ethics panel had “extensive and exhaustive” deliberations on the complaint.

Abalos added that the panel still allowed Barzaga to present his defense even if he was late because he stayed up late playing games.

“Noong nagkaroon po tayo ng adjudicatory hearing, nag-file siya ng motion for postponement kasi may sakit po ang kanyang abogado. Yung ginawa po ng committee, nag-schedule kami ng special hearing para masigurado na nandun ‘yung karapatan niyang ma-cross examine ang testigo ng mga complainant,” Abalos said.

(When we had an adjudicatory hearing, he filed a motion for postponement because his lawyer was sick. The committee scheduled a special hearing to ensure that he will have the right to cross examine the witnesses of the complainants.)

He admitted that some members of the House panel were getting frustrated because the complainants were all present but Barzaga, the respondent, was either late or absent.

“May mga kasamahan tayo na sinasabi, ba’t hindi na lang tayo mag-judgment on the pleadings. Committee on ethics members, we made it a point na mag-schedule kami ng extra time para sigurado po na ang respondent sa ethics complaint, masagot niya lahat ng alegasyon laban sa kanya,” Abalos added.

(Some of our colleagues were saying, why not render a judgment on the pleadings. But we ethics committee members, we made it a point to schedule extra time to ensure that the respondent can answer all the allegations against him.)

The House ethics panel chair also stressed that their decision was not meant to quell criticisms or oppositions against the government.

“What we are disciplining is conduct unbecoming of a member. Kaya napakahalaga po ng ethics recommendation na na-adopt ng plenary because we have to draw a line between the genuine exercise of freedom of expression, ang totoong freedom of expression, kumpara sa conduct unbecoming of an elected official,” Abalos said.

(What we are disciplining is conduct unbecoming of a member. It is very important for the ethics panel’s recommendation to be adopted by the plenary because we have to draw a line between the genuine exercise of freedom of expression, true freedom of expression, compared to conduct unbecoming of an elected official.)

He noted that ostentatious displays of wealth – an apparent reference to Barzaga’s post before he became a lawmaker, where he was shown holding wads of cash – has nothing to do with one’s politics or political opinion.

“Pangalawa, ang nude photos, ang pagpapakita ng mga imahe na nakakabastos sa ating mga kababaihan, hindi po ‘yan political criticism or speech,” Abalos said.

(Second, nude photos or showing images that are offensive to our women that is not political criticism or speech.)

“If you are going to make certain pronouncements, for example, ang pagsunog ng Kongreso or kunwari po ang pagdala ng airsoft sa rally. Hindi po ito ang genuine criticism na pino-promote po natin sa House of Representatives,” Abalos added.

(If you are going to make certain pronouncements, for example, burning down the House or bringing airsoft guns to a rally. That is not the genuine criticism that we are promoting in the House of Representatives.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News