by Diego Morra
Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga is barking the wrong tree when he insisted the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives punished him unjustly for the 24 social media posts he had made that the panel thought maligned the institution and violated rules on decorum, saying that the committee did not look into the veracity of his claims.
Apparently, Barzaga was not aware of the duties and responsibilities of a member of the Low er House, and perhaps he was not apprised by his kin and colleagues that the chamber also has to abide by the rules of deliberative assemblies, particularly Robert’s Rules crafted by a US general of Huguenot heritage. The Rules forbids caterwauling, hissy fits and sardonic statements. He was suspended for 60 days starting Dec. 1, 2025 without pay and allowances for “disorderly behavior” and “incendiary” posts, meaning he can now play with his cats and post whatever he likes, or even address the Filipino people in case anyone bothers to listen.
Apparently, only five lawmakers found it fit to support Barzaga, 249 found it beneath their dignity to back him and 11 abstained. Lawmakers determined that the “lewd,” “inappropriate,” and “reckless” posts on his Facebook account constituted “disorderly” behavior. Aside from violating the Rules of the House, Barzaga was also cited for flaying the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 6713. The Lower House overwhelmingly agreed that Barzaga’s actions sullied the “dignity” and “integrity” of the institution.
The Lower House commanded Barzaga to remove all of his 24 derogatory social media posts in 24 hours and warned that repetition of misconduct would compel the imposition of severe disciplinary action. Like an obedient pet, Barzaga complied, deleting the 24 Facebook posts from cyberspace, saying he accepted the penalty, implying that he had wronged the institution. Yet, the Cavite lawmaker insisted that his betters must likewise be punished, in effect arguing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. must also be disciplined for his actions. The only form of punishment for the President, Vice President, Supreme Court Justices and other officials of constitutional bodies is through impeachment. Members of the legislature are not impeachable.
He crowed about the failure of the House to discipline womanizers in the august chamber, the playgirls, the grafters and the legislators with their fingers caught in the cookie jar. No one is hindering the lawmaker from filing ethics complaints against his colleagues but as the figures show, there is little interest in Barzaga among his esteemed seatmates. Moreover, he tried to essay the victimhood shtick, arguing that he was being singled out because he dared criticize Marcos Jr., cross swords with his son, Rep. Sandro Marcos, organize a protest picket against them Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and dare to assail the mangling of the national budget.
Malacañang naturally rejected any role in the punishment slapped on Barzaga saying that the ethics complaint against the greenhorn Cavite lawmaker was an internal matter that was deliberated in the House of Representatives on the basis of his abusive social media posts. Indeed, if Barzaga were to be true to his calling as a Don Quixote fighting the windmills, he must start with the Barzaga kingdom in Dasmarinas City. As his constituents have rightly posited, the big fight should start at home. They wondered how many houses the Barzagas have accumulated in the the plush residential subdivisions in Cavite that also host world-class golf courses that consume precious water. Or from where did greenhorn Barzaga source the wads of cash that he had flaunted in his lewd FB posts? Of greater interest to them, other than the poor service of Primewater, is the failure of the Barzagas to go hammer and tongs against the illegal drug syndicates preying on the youth of Dasmarinas City.
The Little Lord Fauntleroy of Dasmarinas City has apparently less charm and intelligence than the character created by Frances Hodgson Burnett but he has a place at the House of Representatives, where he has been staying as many people suffer fools gladly. In the real world, where a lawmaker’s value is measured by his understanding of the job and his accomplishments in crafting laws that advance the common weal, this gentleman’s fettle is dubious. He may question why the House sanctioned him but the issue really is that Barzaga has to be read the Riot Act to understand that the chamber is duty-bound to defend itself from accusations that it has become a circus, incapable of defending when it is reduced to a caricature or a Trilby manipulated by Svengali.
If Barzaga continues to be confused about the role of decorum and parliamentary procedures and maintains that he is free to choose what he can post, to hell with the consequences in an institution with its set of rules, then he can liberate himself by resigning from the chamber. The trouble with him is that he wants to have his cake and eat it, too. Once you abuse parliamentary immunity, it will soon wither away, like what happened to US Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Barzaga has to come to terms that he is a member of the Lower House, read his job description and abide by the terms of his employment as representative of his Cavite constituents. Understanding the job should allow him to clear some cobwebs. Or does he need more help?
