A new disciplinary penalty against Cavite 4th district Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga is set to reach the House plenary, barely days after he resumed duties following a previous suspension.
Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano said a recommendation from the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges would be formally reported to the plenary during the scheduled session on Wednesday, Feb. 4, after a closed-door hearing held the day before.
“By tomorrow, 3 o’ clock, nasa plenary yun [recommendation]. Kasi ang nakalagay naman doon is to report immediately the result of that committee hearing,” Valeriano said in an interview on Tuesday.
“The plenary will decide by tomorrow kung maga-grant yung 60-day suspension. I don’t know what will happen,” he added.
The ethics panel meeting tackled four separate complaints and referrals involving Barzaga. According to Valeriano, these included two complaints from Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin, a joint filing from 29 members of the National Unity Party, and a privilege speech delivered by Valeriano last week citing what he described as continuing disorderly conduct by the Cavite lawmaker.
Valeriano said Barzaga did not attend the proceedings, despite being invited multiple times. He added that the absence was consistent with what Barzaga had earlier publicly indicated.
The development came shortly after Barzaga marked his return to the House on Feb. 2 through a Facebook video post, following the completion of a 60-day suspension imposed late last year. On Dec. 1, the plenary adopted an ethics committee recommendation to suspend him without pay after finding him guilty of disorderly behavior linked to inflammatory and lewd social media posts.
An unnamed NUP member said the latest recommendation could potentially be elevated beyond another suspension, noting that at least one participant in the ethics hearing pushed for a harsher sanction.
“Titignan pa rin sa plenary kung anong mangyayari sa kanya. The final decision is with plenary,” the lawmaker said.
Asked whether he personally favored expulsion, Valeriano said yes.
“Expulsion na sana kasi paulit ulit eh,” he said, citing what he described as unacceptable conduct involving remarks about a deceased colleague.
“Unchristian, very unchristian yung ginawa niya na yun,” Valeriano added, saying such behavior should not be tolerated regardless of online attention it generates.
