Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has said he intends to personally apologize to businessman Enrique Razon Jr. after acknowledging that his public accusations against the tycoon were influenced by a personal grievance rather than verified information.
Barzaga made the statement during the TNT Podcast hosted by columnist Ramon Tulfo and lawyer Clint Aranas, which aired Monday. He was responding to a question from a netizen asking whether he regretted accusing Razon of bribing members of the National Unity Party (NUP) to support Ferdinand Martin Romualdez in the 2025 House speakership contest.
In the podcast, Barzaga traced his resentment to what he initially believed was Razon’s absence from the wake of his father, former Cavite lawmaker Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. He said this absence led him to question the businessman’s relationship with his family, eventually hardening into a personal grudge.
“Well actually it’s more of a personal regret rather than a regret right now, because the case, before it all started, it’s a personal story […] so my father was actually, I’m not sure how to say this but he actually worked a lot with Razon, he actually really liked Razon […] And then afterwards no’ng namatay si Cong. Pidi, we did not see Razon there,” Barzaga said.
He added, “I was actually looking forward to seeing him in my father’s funeral, but he was not there, so I was wondering why, and then eventually that turned into a personal grudge against Razon because I was wondering why, he was so close to my father, or my father believed he was so close to him but he didn’t even bother to show up.”
Barzaga also claimed that his father had told him that key developments within the NUP occurred with Razon’s approval. This belief, he said, reinforced his suspicions when the controversy erupted.
According to Barzaga, he later learned from a former staff member of his father that the elder Barzaga had, before his death, sent letters to several individuals, including Razon. The correspondence, he said, clarified that Razon had been asked not to attend the wake due to health concerns.
“And then afterwards, ano, recently no’ng nagkaroon ng, kinasuhan na ako ni Razon, I talked with one of my father’s previous staff and ‘yong kasama niya sa hospital noon, and he actually sent a letter to all of us when he died, me and my brothers, my mother also I believe, and to former Speaker Martin Romualdez regarding what he plans for me and every thing, his plans for the Dasma district that he would be leaving in case of his death,” he said.
“Tapos pinakita din sa akin ‘yong letter ni Cong. Pidi kay Razon, and that’s the one that involved Congressman Pidi telling Razon he has been thankful, he appreciates the opportunity being able to work with him, and he also told Razon not to go to his funeral because it’s a health risk, because he’s also a senior citizen and he might get COVID or something,” Barzaga added.
After seeing the letter, Barzaga said his resentment toward Razon dissipated, though he acknowledged that the legal consequences of his statements may still proceed. Asked whether the dispute was personal, he initially said it was not, but later conceded that personal feelings played a role.
“So then, afterwards, parang nawala na ‘yong grudge against ko kay Razon, parang nawala na ‘yong grudge ko against Razon pero ngayon may mga kaso na so eventually we will still have to fight in court,” he said.
“Hindi naman personal but like part of that contributes to it, kasi dati inisip ko na parang, hindi naman ginamit, pero parang I initially thought of Razon as someone who does not value his subordinates, kasi si Cong Pidi, or maybe father just misinterpreted the relationship,” he added.
When pressed by Tulfo on whether he would apologize publicly, Barzaga said he preferred to do so in private. “Well I would personally apologize to him […] Yes, for the misinterpretation of that, yeah I’d like to apologize but I’d like to do it personally,” he said.
Barzaga is currently under suspension from the House following a series of incendiary social media posts targeting Razon. His remarks also drew condemnation from NUP leaders, including party chairperson and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, who said he was considering filing cases against the lawmaker and noted that other party members named in the allegations were also preparing legal action.
Razon has filed two counts of cyber libel against Barzaga and is seeking at least P100 million in moral damages and P10 million in exemplary damages, citing damage to his reputation and emotional distress, and has dismissed the accusations as “knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth.”
