What punishment awaits Kiko Barzaga ought to Home determine to sanction him

Barzaga, who missed his ethics listening to as a result of he was enjoying video video games, faces something from expulsion to a mere slap on the wrist

Cavite 4th District Consultant Kiko Barzaga is presently the topic of an ethics criticism within the Home of Representatives.

That’s after his former partymates within the Nationwide Unity Occasion filed a case in opposition to him for supposed unethical conduct.

The ethics committee initially reviewed the case on Monday, October 13, however each events opposed the creation of a reconciliation sub-committee to settle the dispute, paving the way in which for a full continuing.

The Home, nonetheless, went on a month-long break on the finish of the day and gained’t return till November 10, successfully delaying any disciplinary motion that may be imposed in opposition to Barzaga.

The ethics committee can solely make suggestions that can be topic for approval on the plenary.

What sanctions await Barzaga ought to the Home determine to punish him?

Home guidelines

Part 142 of the Home guidelines handbook states that the Home could slap the next sanctions in opposition to an erring member:

• Censure or reprimand with the concurrence of nearly all of the members within the plenary
• Suspension with the concurrence of two-thirds of the Home
• Expulsion with the concurrence of two-thirds of the Home

Censure, the lightest punishment, does not likely have a sensible impact, and is equal to a public assertion by the Home disapproving the conduct of its member.

The newest to obtain that sanction was former Home speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in 2024, for supposedly making libelous remarks about public officers in his dwelling province Davao del Norte, neglecting his duties as a lawmaker, and issuing seditious statements.

There was additionally an occasion in 2018 when then-ACTS OFW consultant John Bertiz was reprimanded after a video that confirmed him confronting a safety checker on the Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport went viral.

The second highest type of punishment is suspension, which bars the errant lawmaker from attending periods, in addition to having fun with wage, workplace house, and different compensation and privileges he’s entitled to when the bar is in impact.

In March 2023, the Home suspended then-representative Arnie Teves for disorderly conduct, when he stayed overseas with expired journey clearance and defied orders to return dwelling and carry out his congressional duties.

Teves is underneath detention for masterminding the killing of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo in March 2023.

The Home extended issuing the harshest sanction in opposition to Teves. In Could, the plenary voted to lengthen the suspension in opposition to him, but in addition booted him out of his committees.

It was solely in August 2023 when the chamber imposed the very best penalty and formally expelled him, a primary for an establishment that takes satisfaction in its collegiality.

The NUP didn’t ask for a selected sanction in opposition to Barzaga. Occasion chair and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno mentioned they “solely need the committee to outline requirements of conduct required of all congressmen.”

Barzaga’s antics

The neophyte lawmaker is being chastised by his colleagues for jokingly, in his Fb posts, speaking concerning the Batasang Pambansa being set on fireplace — an motion that Puno mentioned could probably be inciting to sedition.

Puno additionally flagged Barzaga’s posts that pasted emoji of cats on photographs of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senate President Tito Sotto, and different Cupboard members.

There have been additionally social media posts by Barzaga that supposedly mocked ladies, though some have been posted earlier than he turned a congressman.

Barzaga on Sunday night time, October 12, tried to rally protesters exterior Forbes Park, a reported place of residence of former Home speaker Martin Romualdez.

Just a few dozens, nonetheless, confirmed up.

He missed the ethics committee listening to the morning after, telling reporters he was enjoying video video games the night time earlier than. – Rappler.com