SEVERAL members of the National Unity Party (NUP), who earlier filed an ethics complaint against Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” A. Barzaga, have asked the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges to require a comprehensive fitness determination before he is allowed to resume legislative functions following his suspension.
In a Manifestation and Motion filed through counsel on Wednesday, the complainants cited Rep. Barzaga’s continued publication of inflammatory and disorderly content on his verified official social media accounts, despite the disciplinary sanctions previously imposed by the House of Representatives.
The filing recalled the House’s adoption on December 1, 2025 of Committee Report No. 28, which found Barzaga liable for misconduct under the House Code of Conduct and Republic Act No. 6713. The report imposed a 60-day suspension without salary and allowances and carried a stern warning that any repetition of similar misconduct would merit more severe sanctions.
According to the complainants, Barzaga disregarded both the suspension and the warning by again posting content that allegedly reflects discredit upon the House and undermines the ethical standards expected of Members of Congress. The motion cited posts that include mockery and vilification of the late Rep. Romeo “Romy” Acop, ridicule of tributes offered to him, crude and objectifying remarks involving women, inflammatory political commentary published through official platforms, and the alleged exploitation of another public official’s death to advance an unfounded conspiracy narrative.
Taken together with Barzaga’s prior misconduct, the complainants argued that these actions demonstrate a continuing disregard for the authority of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges and constitute an ongoing affront to the dignity of the House of Representatives.
They stressed that disciplinary sanctions are intended to be corrective, and that continued misconduct even after formal discipline raises serious concerns about whether the respondent is prepared to discharge the duties of a legislator in accordance with the standards of conduct required by law and House rules.
The Manifestation and Motion therefore seeks an order requiring a comprehensive fitness determination before Barzaga is permitted to resume legislative functions, to assess whether he is physically, mentally, emotionally, and behaviorally fit to perform the duties of a Member of Congress in a manner consistent with the House Code of Conduct.
The complainants clarified that they are not asking the plenary to impose a new penalty, which remains within the authority of the House sitting in plenary session. Rather, they invoked the Committee’s supervisory and fact-finding powers to ensure that appropriate institutional safeguards are in place before a member disciplined for misconduct returns to legislative work.
The motion is anchored on the House’s constitutional authority to discipline its members under Article VI, Section 16(3) of the Constitution, as well as the Committee’s continuing jurisdiction under House rules over matters affecting conduct, dignity, and institutional integrity.
The complainants emphasized that the House of Representatives must uphold standards befitting an institution worthy of public trust, warning that persistent misconduct despite prior discipline necessitates corrective measures to protect institutional integrity and preserve public confidence in democratic institutions.
The National Unity Party is the second-largest political party in the House of Representatives.
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