Duterte bloc in House opposes fresh suspension calls vs Kiko Barzaga

MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte bloc in the House of Representatives on Wednesday opposed calls to extend the 60-day suspension of Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, who is facing a new ethics inquiry for his alleged continued misconduct.

“A handful of members of the House ethics committee should not supersede the will of the thousands of voters who elected him (Barzaga) to represent the fourth district of Cavite,” wrote Davao Reps. Paolo Duterte, Omar Vincent Duterte, Isidro Ungab, and PPP Rep. Harold James Duterte in a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III.

“If any party feels legally wronged or defamed, the courts of law are the proper venue, not the House ethics committee acting as arbiter of acceptable opinion,” they added. 

The Dutertes and Ungab consider themselves to be part of the Duterte bloc in the Marcos-allied chamber. 

Their letter comes as the ethics committee, chaired by 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos, is set to submit its recommendation on whether to extend Barzaga’s two-month suspension or expel him from office, after he accused his former National Unity Party colleagues of receiving bribes from businessman Enrique Razon to vote for Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez during the speakership race in July 2025.

The initial 60-day suspension was imposed on Barzaga last December for his inappropriate social media posts and misconduct in the plenary.

READ: House ethics panel to submit recommendation on Barzaga on Feb. 4

Barzaga was absent during the closed-door hearing last Tuesday, which was prompted by Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano’s request to reinvestigate him for continuing his controversial social media posts.

In their letter, however, the Duterte bloc argued that Barzaga’s right to free expression “is constitutionally protected…political speech, especially when it is critical, sharp, or uncomfortable, is not a punishable offense in a democratic society.” 

“Disciplinary powers must never be used to silence dissent or override the democratic choice of the people,” they wrote. /mcm