Barzaga faces 3rd cyberlibel complaint, this time by Manila Rep. Valeriano

Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano on Wednesday filed a cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga over his alleged defamatory posts on his social media account.

Valeriano lodged the complaint with the Office of the Manila City Prosecutor.

He cited Barzaga’s January 9 Facebook post which read: “NUP (National Unity Party) Congressmen received bribes from Enrique Razon in various gatherings in Solaire prior to the 2025 elections in exchange for supporting Speaker Martin Romualdez [of Leyte].”

Valeriano said Barzaga’s baseless allegation was publicly disseminated online and subsequently amplified through online news sites and social media pages, exposing NUP lawmakers to reputational harm and public suspicion.

“The post was made maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth. Baseless accusations of bribery are not harmless political commentary,” he said in a statement. 

“It was intended to stain a whole bloc of legislators through one sweeping allegation, without evidence, without verification, and without accountability. If you claim that legislators were bribed, then you have the duty to prove it,” he added. 

Likewise, Valeriano said other NUP members affected by the post are pursuing their own legal remedies. 

Sought for comment, Barzaga said "I’ll face them in court."

Wednesday’s filing marks the third cyberlibel rap against Barzaga that stemmed from his Facebook posts which have been deleted prior to the filing of the complaints.

Port magnate Enrique Razon, Jr. was the first to file a cyberlibel complaint against the Cavite lawmaker, followed by House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City.

Puno is the chairman of the National Unity Party (NUP), the second largest political party in the House of Representatives.

One of the founders of NUP is Barzaga’s late father, Cavite Rep. Elipidio Barzaga.

Kiko Barzaga is a former NUP member but left the party in September 2025 amid chatter that he is involved in a House leadership coup plot to oust then Speaker Romualdez. —AOL, GMA Integrated News