Pichay files ethics complaint vs Barbers

Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay has filed an ethics case against Surigao del Norte Rep. Joseph “Ace” Barbers following their Oct. 12 altercation that nearly came to blows at a congressional hearing.

In a nine-page complaint, Pichay asked the House ethics committee to punish his Mindanao colleague for disorderly behavior and unparliamentary conduct after instigating a confrontation at a hearing of the House committee on constitutional amendments.

He accused Barbers of violating Section 138, Rule 19 of the House Rules on code of conduct, which states that a House member “shall act at all times in a manner that shall reflect creditably on the House.”

Under House rules, creditable is defined as “worthy of belief or sufficiently good to bring esteem or praise.”

“Barbers’ acts constitute a disorderly behavior and therefore can be considered a dishonorable act not only against me but the entire institution which is the House of Representatives,” Pichay’s complaint stated.

Pichay accused Barbers of hurling invectives and pointing his fingers at him at the height of the heated confrontation.

“In self-defense, Rep. Pichay stood up to prepare himself for whatever Rep. Barbers was maliciously intending to do,” his complaint said.

The confrontation was broken up when a congresswoman stepped in between them.

Barbers has apologized to the public for his behavior but not to Pichay, stressing the latter was also in the wrong.