Kiko Barzaga Remains Suspended from House of Representatives

Congressman Barzaga Remains Suspended Despite False Claims of Intervention

Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga continues to serve his 60-day suspension from the House of Representatives, contrary to viral claims that his punishment has been lifted through alleged intervention from Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

The false information spread through a YouTube video posted by the channel “News Update Files” on December 5, garnering more than 36,000 views and thousands of engagements. The video’s thumbnail features a manipulated image showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holding a sign declaring “Kiko Barzaga Unsospended [sic] Confirmed” alongside a fabricated selfie of Barzaga, Duterte, and Marcoleta.

A text overlay on the thumbnail claims, “Nag-sanib pwersa na! Barzaga unsuspended na tinulungan ni VP at Marcoleta” (They’ve joined forces! Barzaga unsuspended, helped by VP and Marcoleta). The video content appears to be repurposed from a stream by a controversial vlogger previously involved in a cyber libel complaint.

The truth remains that Barzaga was suspended on December 1 when 249 lawmakers voted to remove him from duties for 60 days due to what was described as his “reckless, offensive, and irresponsible use of his social media.” This disciplinary action followed a formal complaint from Barzaga’s former colleagues in the National Unity Party, who cited numerous inappropriate social media posts that allegedly demeaned women and undermined public confidence in government institutions.

Beyond inappropriate content, Barzaga faced accusations of inciting sedition through provocative rhetoric, including jokes about burning the Batasang Pambansa, the Philippines’ congressional building.

The suspension has political dimensions worth noting. Barzaga, once aligned with the Marcos administration, has evolved into one of its more vocal critics in recent months. This transformation has drawn attention from supporters of Vice President Duterte, though she has explicitly denied any coordination with the congressman’s actions.

When asked about Barzaga’s suspension, Duterte did express concern, characterizing it as “part of a series of efforts to silence voices that speak uncomfortable truths.” However, this statement does not indicate any collaboration to reverse the disciplinary measure.

Constitutional experts point out that such intervention would be impossible under Philippines’ governance structure. Article VI, Section 16 of the Constitution grants each chamber of Congress autonomy in disciplining its own members. The House of Representatives alone holds the authority to impose—or lift—sanctions against its members.

Neither the Senate, where Marcoleta serves, nor the Office of the Vice President possesses any constitutional authority to override disciplinary decisions made by the House of Representatives against its members.

This is not the first instance of misinformation surrounding Barzaga. Previous false claims about his supposed arrest have been debunked by fact-checkers. Similar fabrications have targeted the Duterte family in recent months as political tensions continue to simmer in Philippine politics.

The spread of such misinformation highlights ongoing challenges in the Philippine information ecosystem, where political content often blurs the line between commentary and fabrication, particularly on platforms like YouTube where content moderation faces significant hurdles.

As Barzaga’s 60-day suspension continues, political observers note that such disciplinary actions against sitting representatives remain relatively rare in Philippine congressional history, underscoring the exceptional nature of the case and perhaps explaining the unusual level of public interest and misinformation surrounding it.