Kiko Barzaga surrenders to Cavite police after Makati court issues arrest warrant

Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga surrendered to the authorities on Monday night after a warrant of arrest was issued in connection with cyber libel charges filed against him.

According to GMA News’ Katrina Son, Barzaga surrendered to Police Lt. Colonel Mac Arthur Mercader, officer-in-charge of Dasmariñas Component City Police Station. 

The arrest warrant was issued against him by Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 147. 

A copy of the warrant showed that Barzaga was charged with eight counts of cyberlibel. Bail was set at P48,000 for each count.

The lawmaker surrendered at the Dasmariñas Component City Police Station at 6:59 p.m.

Barzaga posted bail at 10:25 p.m. and was released.

GMA News has sought his comment and will publish it as soon as it is available.
 

Businessman Enrique Razon, Deputy Speaker Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno, and Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano in January filed cyberlibel complaints against Barzaga over the Cavite congressman's Facebook post on January 9, in which he said, “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].”

In his cyberlibel complaint filed before the Makati City Prosecutors' Office, Razon said that he became aware of Barzaga’s posts after he was informed of them by several of his friends and colleagues.

“While he may have already deleted his defamatory statements, the lies that he let loose have already taken flight and caused harm. The imputations by respondent Barzaga of “corruption” and “bribery” on my part are patently malicious,” Razon said. 

Further, Razon said that Barzaga’s Facebook posts are not protected political speech because they do not cover false and malicious statements. 

“I am not the 'mastermind behind the corruption in Congress', and I have not bribed 'NUP Congressmen'—or any Member of Congress for that matter. He cannot prove that I am the 'mastermind behind the corruption in Congress' or that 'NUP Congressmen received bribes' from me 'in various gatherings in Solaire prior to the 2025 elections in exchange for supporting Speaker Martin Romualdez—because these things simply never happened,” Razon said.

“These wild charges are the products of a fevered imagination angling for media attention… He is free to stultify himself before the public, but he is not free to tarnish and taint the good reputation of another,” he added.

Puno filed his complaint against Barzaga before the city prosecutor of Antipolo.

“Actions have consequences, especially when they are malicious and clearly intended to destroy reputations without any basis. You cannot casually accuse someone of a crime, broadcast it to millions, and expect to hide behind social media antics. We will pursue full accountability under the law," Puno said.

Valeriano, on the other hand, filed his complaint in Manila.

“The post was made maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth. Baseless accusations of bribery are not harmless political commentary,” Valeriano 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.  –Vince Angelo Ferreras and Mariel Celine Serquiña /NB/RF, GMA News