Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga said he is fully prepared to defend himself against an ethics complaint that could be filed against him, even if the case moves forward next year.
“I already prepared my legal defense. I’m ready for anything they might throw at me. And I’m pretty confident that I could answer all of Chairman Puno’s questions. Again, he’s still a good friend… And I’m excited to debate with him on the ethics issue,” Barzaga told reporters on Wednesday, September 17.
The issue stems from House Deputy Speaker and National Unity Party (NUP) chair Rep. Ronaldo Puno’s plan to lodge a complaint over what he described as behavior “demeaning” to the House of Representatives. Puno had earlier criticized Barzaga for posting “lewd content” on social media, which he said was disrespectful to women.
Barzaga, who recently resigned from NUP, denied allegations about his health and stressed that the complaint may not be filed soon since Congress is currently focused on deliberating the 2026 national budget.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) strongly condemned Barzaga’s actions, stressing that “especially when committed by a public official, [they] constitute direct affront to the honor and dignity of women and a gross violation of the trust placed upon them by the Filipino people.”
The PCW added that accountability must apply equally across all political affiliations and branches of government, underscoring that public office comes with the highest standards of conduct.
