Camille Naredo

Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga is seen at the House of Representatives plenary hall on September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga is seen at the House of Representatives plenary hall as Speaker Martin Romualdez is set to issue a statement regarding his resignation on September 17, 2025. Lawmakers witnessed the transition, which marked a significant political shift in the lower chamber.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176959048585220250917-house-of-representatives-kiko-barzaga-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga is seen at the House of Representatives plenary hall on September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga is seen at the House of Representatives plenary hall on September 17, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges will tackle in a hearing next week the accusations made against Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga.</p><p>According to House panel chairperson JC Abalos, they may discuss Barzaga’s bribery allegations against fellow congressmen and remarks on the late House lawmaker Romeo Acop.</p><p>Barzaga will be required to attend, Abalos added.</p><p>The announcement was made following Manila 2nd District Representative and National Unity Party member Rolando Valeriano’s privilege speech during plenary session on Tuesday calling for a more severe sanction against Barzaga for supposedly continuing to violate House Rules.</p><p>&quot;Mayroon po tayong House members na tumayo on personal and collective privilege. At kahapon po, nagkaroon po ng motion na in-adopt ng plenaryo kung saan rine-require po ang Committee on Ethics na italakay ang privilege speech ni Representative Roland Valeriano, interpellated by Congressman Dino Tanjuatco, talakayan namin sa aming next regular hearing,&quot; Abalos said in a press briefing on Wednesday. </p><p>&quot;So kami po, mayroon naman kaming scheduled hearing next week. And along with that motion, in-adopt rin ng plenary na ni-require mag-attend po ng ating respondent na si Representative Barzaga.&quot;</p><p>Barzaga, as well as the complainants, will be given a chance to submit pieces of evidence, Abalos said.</p><p>“Kung babalikan po natin ang naging privilege speech ng ating kasamahan sa Kongreso, of course, kasama po diyan ‘yung allegations of bribery, and of course, some remarks as regards to our deceased member. ‘Yun po ang mga bagay ata na tatalakayin next week. But of course, ayoko rin pong pangunahan ang mga complainant dahil binigyan po natin ang pagkakataon ang lahat na mag-submit ng kanilang mga ebidensya dahil inilatag lamang po ito sa floor,” Abalos said.</p><p>“So of course, magbibigay po tayo ng additional notice para mabigyan rin po ng pagkakataon ‘yung respondent na sagutin lahat ng mga akusasyon laban sa kanya,” Abalos added.</p><p>When asked about expulsion from Congress being the heaviest penalty Barzaga could face, Abalos said any member of Congress can be expelled.</p><p>“Any member of Congress can be expelled. Any member of Congress can be suspended. Any member of Congress could face censure and reprimand. This would all depend sa course ng proceedings,” Abalos said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/27/lawmaker-calls-for-barzaga-s-further-suspension-2153">READ: Lawmaker calls for Barzaga’s further suspension</a></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘EXPEL ME IF THEY WANT’</strong></div><p>Barzaga, meanwhile, said he plans to ignore the ethics committee’s summons.</p><p>In a post, Barzaga even said the House of Representatives could expel him “if they want” then he accused the lower house of doing nothing but destroying “the lives of the Filipino People.”</p><p>“I will be ignoring the summons of the Ethics Committee, expel me if they want, but the Philippine Congress has done nothing but destroy the lives of the Filipino People,” Barzaga wrote in a post on Wednesday.</p><p>In his privilege speech, Valeriano mentioned Barzaga’s post saying National Unity Party (NUP) congressmen received a “bribe” from a businessman before the 2025 elections in exchange for support towards former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/barzaga-may-face-another-ethics-complaint-over-allegations-against-nup-2348">READ: Barzaga may face another ethics complaint over ‘sweeping, unsubstantiated’ allegations against NUP</a></div><p>The Cavite lawmaker’s posts alleging Acop was involved in flood control corruption were also cited.</p><p>Back in December, a 60-day suspension was imposed against Barzaga over “reckless” and “inflammatory” posts on social media.</p><p>This came with a warning that repeat offenses would mean a more severe punishment.</p><p>On Wednesday, Manila 2nd District Representative and NUP member Rolando Valeriano filed House Resolution 669, seeking an additional 60 day suspension without salaries and allowances to be imposed Barzaga.</p><p>The House plenary referred Valeriano’s resolution to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ETHICS COMMITTEE READY FOR ANY COMPLAINT VS. LEVISTE</strong></div><p>While he could not confirm if an ethics complaint had been filed against Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, Abalos said the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges is ready to handle this if it happens.</p><p>Abalos stressed all cases filed before them are confidential.</p><p>“In accordance with our Committee on Ethics rules, all cases that are filed before us are considered confidential. So I cannot confirm or deny the existence of any complaint. What I can confirm though is that the Committee on Ethics is ready to receive, to handle, and to process any complaint that will be filed before us. And as I have said, sa lahat ng complaint na nai-file po sa ‘min, lahat po ito tatalakayin namin next week,” Abalos told the media.</p><p>House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Terry Ridon said back in December that Leviste could face an ethics complaint over a supposed unlawful acquisition of the so-called “Cabral files.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/31/ridon-says-leviste-may-face-ethics-complaint-over-alleged-illegal-acquisition-of-cabral-files-0001">Ridon says Leviste may face ethics complaint over alleged illegal acquisition of Cabral files</a></div>

<p>The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges will tackle in a hearing next week accusations made against Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga.</p>

The House Committee on Ethics and Privileges will tackle in a hearing next week accusations made against Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga.

House ethics committee to tackle issues surrounding Barzaga next week

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House ethics committee to tackle issues surrounding Barzaga next week

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 28, 2026 04:59 PM PHT

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Updated January 28, 2026 08:48 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

Kiko Barzaga

House Committee on Ethics

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