Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga said he relied on supporters to raise the money needed to post bail following his surrender to authorities Monday night, a day after a Makati court issued a warrant for his arrest.
The Makati City Regional Trial Court Branch 147 ordered Barzaga’s arrest on eight counts of online libel under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Bail was fixed at P48,000 per count, bringing the total to P384,000.
Barzaga said in an ambush interview at the House of Representatives that the warrant came as no surprise. “I was already expecting that,” he said. “I have plenty of cases, so we were expecting warrants of arrest at the time.”
Asked how he managed to cover the bail amount, the 4th District lawmaker was candid. “I’d like to thank all my supporters,” he said, adding a playful note toward those who sat out the effort: “And for those who didn’t help with our fundraising, I still have other cases, and hopefully you can help me post bail next time.”
The cyberlibel charges stem from a January 9 social media post in which Barzaga alleged that members of the National Unity Party had accepted bribes from businessman Enrique Razon Jr. in exchange for backing Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s speakership bid in the 20th Congress. Razon, NUP chair and House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, and a complainant identified as Valeriano each filed separate cyberlibel complaints arising from the post.
The same post also led to Barzaga’s suspension from the House. In February, 238 members voted to adopt the ethics and privileges committee’s recommendation imposing a 60-day suspension. Barzaga said he is set to return to office next month and described himself as “glad to be back.”
