Lawmakers Vote to Extend Barzaga Suspension Without Pay

Congress Imposes Another 60 Day Penalty on Kiko Barzaga

KIKO BARZAGA – The House of Representatives has once again voted to suspend Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga, extending his time away from Congress by another 60 days.

The House of Representatives has voted to suspend Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga for another 60 days, imposing the penalty without pay and allowances. The decision was made during a plenary session on Wednesday, where 238 lawmakers voted in favor of adopting the recommendation of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, while 10 voted against and nine abstained.

The latest suspension marks the second 60-day penalty imposed on Barzaga in recent months. According to the ethics panel, the additional sanction was recommended after the lawmaker failed to attend committee meetings convened to address new accusations against him. The committee submitted its findings shortly before the plenary vote, which was subsequently approved by a large majority of House members.

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Among those who opposed the suspension were representatives from the Bagong Henerasyon and Kamanggagawa party-lists. Despite the opposition from a small group, the overwhelming vote reflected the chamber’s decision to uphold the committee’s findings.

Reacting briefly to the extended suspension, Barzaga said,

“Sanay na tayo diyan.”

Barzaga’s disciplinary issues stem from a series of public allegations he made against former colleagues in the National Unity Party. He claimed that they accepted bribes from shipping magnate Enrique Razon during the July 2025 speakership race, which was ultimately won by Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez. His statements triggered strong reactions within the chamber and led to further complaints.

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Barzaga was first suspended for 60 days last December over

“inappropriate social media posts and misconduct.”

With the approval of this second suspension, he now faces an extended period away from legislative duties as the House enforces its disciplinary measures.