265 House lawmakers vote to expel Kiko Barzaga

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers voted unanimously on Tuesday to expel a controversial legislator who had been suspended twice for his disorderly behavior and “malicious” social media posts, making him the first member in nearly three years to be banished from the House of Representatives.

More than two-thirds, or a total of 265 legislators, voted in favor of the ethics committee’s findings in its report that Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga should be expelled over acts unbecoming of a member of the chamber. Fourteen were opposed while eight abstained.

“Representative Barzaga engaged in a pattern of highly disruptive, discourteous and disorderly behavior that directly obstructed plenary sessions and desecrated parliamentary solemnity,” 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos, who heads the ethics committee, told the House floor in his sponsorship speech of the panel’s report.

He said Barzaga’s “established infractions” included repeatedly interrupting plenary sessions, making loud outbursts and distracting House members during legislative work, as well as mocking the chamber’s leadership.

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The 27-year-old neophyte lawmaker had been suspended twice for a total of 120 days over incendiary social media posts that leveled accusations and inflammatory remarks against fellow lawmakers and top government officials.

Not once but twice

Barzaga was first suspended in December last year for social media posts “unbefitting of a House member.” These included “incendiary social media contents” on his Facebook accounts and “publicly viewable inappropriate and indecent photos,” particularly one showing him with a woman’s thighs wrapped around his neck.

In February this year, he was again slapped with another 60-day suspension for “repeated, escalating misconduct” that “reflected negatively upon the dignity, integrity and reputation of the House of Representatives.”

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The penalty was imposed after Barzaga, in an online post, accused members of his former political group, the National Unity Party, of taking bribes from business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., supposedly in exchange for reelecting Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez as House speaker in the 20th Congress. This prompted Razon and some party members to charge Barzaga with cyberlibel.

Cat persona

The Cavite representative has styled himself as an advocate of animal rights, even adopting a cat persona, whose quips on social media are often punctuated by “Meow.”

The House last expelled one of its members, former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., in August 2023, after he defied its order for him to return to the Philippines to face the murder case filed against him over the killing of former Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo.

Other lawmakers expelled or removed from the House roster include former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Sr., who was convicted with finality by the Supreme Court for raping a minor, and Ruben Ecleo Jr. of Dinagat Islands, over graft charges and the killing of his wife.

The lead‑up to Tuesday’s vote saw a back‑and‑forth among the lawmakers, with those opposed arguing that Barzaga’s expulsion did not match his infractions and could set a precedent for future proceedings.

“My concern is whether expulsion would be perceived as punishment for dissent rather than genuine disorderly behavior,” Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said. He later questioned whether there was a quorum to vote on Barzaga’s removal, prompting a roll call before the casting of votes went ahead.

Before his expulsion, Barzaga voted against impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte, who was later overwhelmingly indicted on corruption and constitutional violation charges tied to alleged misuse of secret funds and accusations she plotted the assassination of President Marcos, among others.

Barzaga had filed six bills in his 11 months as a lawmaker, including a proposal to legalize divorce in the Philippines. He co‑authored another five, according to his congressional profile. /cb /atm