Dutertes, Ungab thumb down further sanctions vs. Barzaga

Four lawmakers allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday expressed opposition to additional sanctions on Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga, saying further punishment is tantamount to issuing a gag order on the latter's constitutional right to freedom of speech.

The four lawmakers who made the call in a letter sent to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III include:

• Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte
• Davao City 2nd District Rep. Omar Duterte
• Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and
• PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte.

“We express our strong opposition to the reported extension of the suspension being pushed against Rep. Kiko Barzaga. A handful of members of the House Ethics Committee cannot, and should not, presume to supersede the will of the thousands of voters who elected Rep. Barzaga to represent his congressional district,” the lawmakers said.

“His mandate comes from the people, not from the shifting sensibilities of a few colleagues,” they added.

Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano earlier sought additional sanctions for Barzaga over what he said was a breach of the current terms of his suspension order due to the following:

• Barzaga’s social media posts accusing port tycoon Enrique Razon of allegedly bribing lawmakers of the National Unity Party (NUP) to vote for then Speaker Martin Romualdez.
• Barzaga’s remarks that the late Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop, who died in December 2025, is now “suffering through eternal damnation” due to alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, that Acop “left the comfort of his luxurious mansion in exchange for a bit of eternal hellfire” and that such “is the fate of all corrupt politicians.” 

Both Razon and Valeriano already filed cyberlibel complaints vs. Barzaga over the said social media posts.

Barzaga is currently serving his 60-day suspension without pay due to disorderly behavior in relation to his allegedly inappropriate social media posts that were the subject of the complaint against him. 

The House ethics panel, however, is expected to present its further recommendations on the Barzaga case before the House plenary session on Wednesday, February 5, as the latter allegedly violated the terms of his current suspension order.

But for the four lawmakers, Barzaga’s right to free expression is explicitly protected by the Constitution.

“Political speech—especially when it is critical, sharp, or uncomfortable—is not a punishable offense in a democratic society.  If any party believes they have been legally wronged or defamed by Rep. Barzaga’s statements, the proper venue is the courts of law, not the House Ethics Committee acting as arbiter of acceptable opinion,” they said.

“We reiterate our full support for Rep. Barzaga and call for respect—not only for his constitutional rights—but, more importantly, for the voters of Cavite who entrusted him with their voice in Congress. Disciplinary powers must never be used to silence dissent or override the democratic choice of the people,” they added. —AOL, GMA Integrated News