EDITORIAL - Absent with leave

How does the House solve a problem like Kiko Barzaga?

The House of Representatives will have to provide a decisive answer to this question soon, as people in the fourth district of Cavite lose congressional representation.

Last Feb. 4, following a 60-day suspension by his peers, Francisco Barzaga was slapped with another 60-day suspension for continuing the offenses that earned him the first sanction.

Barzaga was first suspended on Dec. 1 last year for disorderly behavior, which included “posting incendiary content and retaining publicly viewable inappropriate and indecent material” in his social media accounts, according to the House. Barzaga had also accused several of his colleagues of accepting bribes.

This time, the House voted 238-10 to adopt a recommendation of its committee on ethics and privileges, to suspend Barzaga for another 60 days “for repeated and escalating misconduct,” according to an official statement from the chamber.

Barzaga ignored a warning from his peers and continued to post “malicious and defamatory content” from Dec. 1, 2025 to Jan. 30, 2026, according to the House.

In the latest suspension, Barzaga was also called out by his colleagues for his posts vilifying Antipolo City congressman Romeo Acop, who died recently. The ethics committee noted that Barzaga had publicly declared he would not attend the ethics hearing, which prompted the panel to declare him in default.

If Barzaga refuses to be disciplined by his peers, what will the House do? While the sanction also suspends Barzaga’s pay, he has given no indication that he intends to change his ways. In the meantime, his constituents are losing representation for four months in Congress.

Another district whose representation is currently in limbo is the first district of Batangas, whose congressman, Leandro Leviste, has left the country reportedly with the blessings of the House leadership and upon the request of his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda.

Leviste has sought travel clearance from the House to visit 19 countries over the next six months, from February to July. This comes amid his disclosure that he has copies of the so-called Cabral files, which supposedly provide details on flood control corruption, and amid a probe into his private business dealings.

The House, currently busy with impeachment efforts against the nation’s two highest officials, will have to find time to clarify its rules governing the conduct of its members. People expect their congressional representatives to work, not to go on prolonged breaks.