Cavite Rep. Barzaga unfazed by possible House ouster

MANILA, Philippines – Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga on Monday said he isn’t concerned about being expelled from the House of Representatives and that he has other opportunities to pursue if that happens. 

“Even if I lose my job in Congress, I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine since I have plenty of other opportunities,” he told reporters when asked about the possibility of being ousted from the lower chamber. 

Barzaga, a 27-year-old neophyte lawmaker, was already suspended twice for 60 days over his social media posts targeting colleagues and top officials.

He has styled himself as an advocate of animal rights and has adopted a cat persona.

“I’m glad to be back,” he said. He was suspended from office on February 5 after accusing some of his fellow lawmakers of receiving bribes to support Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s speakership bid.

“But if ever there’s an expulsion or suspension, we’ll just see how it goes,” said Barzaga. 

READ: Garin: Expel Kiko Barzaga over ‘repetitive’ disruptions

Last week, Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said Barzaga should be expelled from the House following “repetitive” rowdy acts disruptive to lawmaking and unbecoming of a legislator. 

“Historically in Congress, when you are suspended, and then you have another suspension… it will proceed to a higher penalty,” she previously said.

“In his case, the second suspension had a very strong warning.” 

The “higher penalty” she was referring to could be expulsion from the lower chamber. 

“It’s technically expulsion… It’s usually a suspension, suspension, and then expulsion,” she said. 

Barzaga said that if lawmakers vote to remove him from office, it would prove the House is a “corrupt institution.”

“Them expelling me just already proves what people have been assuming, that Congress is a corrupt institution and that it is not working for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he said. /gsg