House suspends Barzaga for 60 days with no pay over offensive posts
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:25 p.m.) — The House of Representatives has voted 249-5-11 to enforce a 60-day suspension for Rep. Kiko Barzaga (Cavite), finding him guilty of disorderly behavior over his "offensive" and "malicious" social media posts.
This came after the chamber adopted the House Committee on Ethics' findings and recommendations during the plenary session on Monday, December 1.
With the House ruling in favor of the National Unity Party's complaint, Barzaga will then be barred from office for two months and will forgo his pay and benefits during that time.
"The committee finds the subject social media post of the respondent to be inflammatory and with the tendency to unjustifiably incite public distrust with the government and House of Representatives," said Rep. JC Abalos, who chairs the committee.
Barzaga accepted the panel's decision but maintained his belief that President Bongbong Marcos should resign, which has been one of his calls on social media. The congressman, however, went beyond in some cases where he suggested overthrowing the government.
"I wholeheartedly accept the decision of the committee, but I maintain my stance that President Marcos must be held accountable for his crimes. Too many people have died and too much money was plundered from the Filipino people for us to stand down now," Barzaga said.
He repeatedly insisted that his social media posts were simply an exercise of his right to free speech and opinion. Abalos, however, said that this right is not absolute and "cannot be invoked in a proceeding" before the ethics committee.
"If every member would invoke their right to free speech in every instance where an improper conduct is being investigated, there would be no instance when a member can ever be held accountable or liable," Abalos added.
Barzaga has also shared disinformation online and has been fact-checked for misleading and false posts in relation to the ongoing corruption probe.
"The subject posts are not mere criticisms of the government but reckless, unsubstantiated, offensive, general insinuations against public institutions and public officials that undermine the people's confidence in the government," Abalos said.
He added that the committee does not consider Barzaga’s posts to be "sensible and intelligible," as would be expected from a public official, especially a lawmaker.
Barzaga is already facing a criminal complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for allegedly inciting sedition and rebellion. He has also been removed from the army reserve force, despite having enlisted as a private only in January of this year.
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