Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

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/177737295212820250917-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 as Speaker Martin Romualdez is set to issue a statement regarding his resignation 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 as Speaker Martin Romualdez is set to issue a statement regarding his resignation on September 17, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin on Tuesday expressed her belief that Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco Barzaga should be expelled, because no changes were supposedly seen from the lawmaker even “with numerous complaints already pending.”</p><p>Historically, two suspensions would be followed with expulsion, according to Garin, a complainant in two complaints against Barzaga.</p><p>“Historically kasi sa Kongreso kapag na-suspend ka na, and then you have another suspension, and in his case, the second suspension had a very strong warning, that if he repeats it again, it will proceed to a higher penalty… Technically, it’s expulsion eh,” Garin said after the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges’ meeting on Tuesday.</p><p>“Walang nagbabago eh. But then, andoon nga ‘yung pinagdedebatehan. I believe that&#x27;s something that they discussed when I was already out. Ang sa kanila naman kasi is ano ba ito? Ano ba ‘yung usual? Kasi the usual practice is suspension, suspension, then expulsion. And others were saying na baka naman ‘yung mapatingnan muna medically and everything. But you know, that is not for us. That is internal to their family kung anuman. And we don&#x27;t want to go into that direction,” Garin added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/14/barzaga-hopes-supporters-will-help-with-bail-again-after-cyber-libel-surrender-1536">READ: Barzaga hopes supporters will help with bail again after cyber libel surrender</a></div><p>Garin said she could not vote on the recommended sanction as she is a complainant.</p><p>Back in February, the House voted to suspend Barzaga for 60 days for the second time after failing to attend committee meetings on accusations against him.</p><p>Garin noted that Barzaga again skipped the ethics panel’s meeting on Tuesday despite being invited.</p><p>Barzaga’s previous statement on a potential link between an Iloilo vice mayor’s death and Garin was the subject of one of the complaints, according to Garin.</p><p>Garin was mentioned in Barzaga’s video online on a possible connection between former Dueñas, Iloilo Vice Mayor Aimee Paz Lamasan’s death and Lamasan’s knowledge of supposed flood control anomalies in Iloilo.</p><p>“Talagang masyadong nasaktan ang pamilya noon. Unang-una kasi ‘yung mga anak bata pa. And then ‘yung ilabas na ‘yung pagkamatay ng kanilang mommy na biglaan ‘yun eh, New Year&#x27;s Eve pa ‘yun at ipinalabas ni Cong. Kiko na tila sinadya daw. Kasi itinatago ‘yung mga dokumento ng mga kung anu-ano. And he was attributing to two leaders in the House who are from Iloilo, and that&#x27;s Congressman Nonoy Defensor and myself,” Garin said.</p><p>The other complaint was on Barzaga’s behavior in the House where he would suddenly start streaming live with members of Congress.</p><p>Barzaga allegedly told Garin this was because cats are prone to fighting or are “pala-away.”</p><p>“Bigla siyang magli-live siya at biglang magpo-poke ng mga cellphone. And we kept on asking him, ‘Why?’ Ang sabi naman niya sa akin, ‘Mommy kasi – cause many of the congs call me that – ang pusa pala-away. So kung hindi ako mang-aaway nang mang-aaway, hindi ako pusa. So kailangan kong mang-away nang mang-away because that is a pusa, and you have to understand that a pusa will have many enemies,’” Garin said.</p><p>“Parang his point is, that&#x27;s his nature as a cat. But he&#x27;s not a cat. He&#x27;s a member of Congress, duly elected, who should demonstrate what is expected, commensurate with his position,” Garin added.</p><p>In a post responding to Garin’s statement, Barzaga asked, “Should I follow your example instead? With a cemetery full of innocent children that died from Dengvaxia?”</p><p>In 2023, the Office of the Ombudsman charged before the Sandiganbayan Garin and several others with criminal charges due to the purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/10/25/23/garin-charged-with-graft-over-purchase-of-dengvaxia-vaccines">Garin charged with graft, illegal use of public funds over purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>SUNTAY’S ‘REMORSE’ FELT</strong></div><p>Garin said she felt remorse from Quezon City 4th District Bong Suntay who, like Barzaga, is facing an ethics complaint.</p><p>Suntay admitted to his mistake and showed sincerity in apologizing to women affected by his remarks, according to Garin.</p><p>The House of Representatives earlier authorized the ethics committee to hold a hearing on Suntay’s statement regarding actress Anne Curtis where he said he experienced having “desire” upon seeing Curtis.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/house-requires-rep-suntay-to-appear-before-march-18-ethics-panel-hearing-2230">House requires Rep. Suntay to appear before March 18 ethics panel hearing</a></div><p>“We can feel that andoon ‘yung remorse at andoon ‘yung sincerity na talagang inaamin niyang mali ang mga statements niya, especially ‘yung attribution sa ating mga kababaihan,&quot; Garin said.</p><p>“Paulit-ulit naman, even the previous hearings, Congressman Bong Suntay was very firm in conveying the message na talagang hindi sadya, at inaamin niyang mali,” Garin added.</p>

<p>House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin said she believes Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco Barzaga should be expelled because no changes were supposedly seen from the lawmaker even “with numerous complaints already pending.”</p>

House Deputy Speaker and Iloilo 1st District Representative Janette Garin said she believes Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco Barzaga should be expelled because no changes were supposedly seen from the lawmaker even “with numerous complaints already pending.”

Garin believes Barzaga ‘should be expelled’; lawmaker skips ethics panel anew

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Garin believes Barzaga ‘should be expelled’; lawmaker skips ethics panel anew

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 28, 2026 06:46 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

ethics committee

Janette Garin

Kiko Barzaga

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