Cavite 4th District Representative Francis “Kiko” Barzaga has stirred controversy after calling for the death penalty—specifically by firing squad—for those guilty of abusing animals.
“Animal cruelty is an injustice that has no place in our society,” Barzaga wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday night, August 2. “I propose a legislation that provides death penalty by firing squad to animal abusers.”
The lawmaker, known for his quirky online persona as “congressmeow,” is vocal about his love for animals, especially cats and dogs. He had previously pledged to craft laws benefiting stray animals, referring to them as “asodogs” and “posacats.”
This isn’t the first time Barzaga has proposed extreme penalties. Just last month, he suggested capital punishment for habitual litterers, although he didn’t specify the method then.
Despite his fiery statements, it remains uncertain whether Barzaga will formalize these proposals into actual bills for deliberation in the House of Representatives.
The Philippines has not enforced capital punishment since it was abolished in 2006 under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. At the time, executions were carried out through lethal injection.
