[Inside the Newsroom] Kiko Barzaga doesn’t deserve the highlight

‘The actions of the Dasmariñas congressman ought to be lined utilizing a extra important lens. Not doing so dangers elevating a determine whose credentials crumble underneath scrutiny.’

Dasmariñas Congressman Kiko Barzaga has been making headlines not too long ago and has turn into a social media darling — properly, relying in your algorithm.

However right here’s the factor: I don’t suppose he deserves the eye he’s getting, and we ought to be extra cautious about placing him on a pedestal. 

Hello, I’m Dwight de Leon, congressional reporter for Rappler, confronted with the burden to guage whether or not what Barzaga truly says is newsworthy.

That’s no straightforward activity, on condition that he’s made lots of daring statements. He has urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign, known as for the imprisonment of former Home speaker Martin Romualdez, and accused Protection Secretary Gilbert Teodoro of harboring pro-war sentiments.

On-line, some political factions are keen to embrace his model of politics. It is sensible —  but in addition doesn’t — on the identical time. 

He preaches to a crowd that’s fed up with the administration’s shortcomings — and I dare say incompetence. He attracts the ears of an citizens pissed off with Congress’ psychological and authorized calisthenics to defend their vested pursuits, and with the federal government’s incapability to supply swift outcomes on its promised crackdown in opposition to corruption.

However does he have the ethical excessive floor to place himself as an anti-corruption crusader?

The 27-year-old Kiko is a neophyte lawmaker — a part of the Home’s batch of 2025 that got here from a political dynasty, one which has dominated Dasmariñas in Cavite since 1998. At the moment, the Barzagas maintain the town’s mayoral, vice mayoral, and congressional seats.

In 2022, Kiko backed the Marcos-Sara Duterte tandem, breaking away from the remainder of the household that endorsed the candidacy of then-presidential aspirant Leni Robredo.  

He dropped out from faculty, however simply received a council seat in 2019 and 2022, earlier than turning into a congressman in 2025. He ran a marketing campaign that had no concrete platform, solely a stable jingle that went viral on TikTok. 

He has no spectacular public service portfolio, only a highly effective surname. Different wannabe politicians who wish to enter elective authorities need to work twice — or thrice — as arduous simply to make it to the doorstep. 

Some politicians — together with Barzaga’s former social gathering mates on the Nationwide Unity Social gathering (NUP) — are speculating about his psychological well being. Such a dialogue is a slippery slope, and one which additionally misses the purpose. 

The NUP endorsed his candidacy, and even supported his election as assistant majority chief upon his entry to Congress. Why did they do all that in the event that they already knew Barzaga’s scenario a very long time in the past? They cited the social gathering’s lengthy ties with and deep respect for his late father, social gathering stalwart Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr.

Shouldn’t politics and public service be about advantage, and never merely relationships?

It’s tempting for media — and content material creators who’re after the clicks — to affix the bandwagon and persistently function a goofball lawmaker, a self-proclaimed animal lover who says “meow” each time he can. 

But it surely’s simplistic, and possibly even provides a caricaturish portrait of a Gen Z lawmaker. 

If the media needs to highlight opposition figures, there’s no scarcity of lawmakers staying in Batasang Pambansa till the wee hours, scrutinizing the price range proposal of the manager: Leila de Lima, Chel Diokno, Antonio Tinio to call a number of; Renee Co, Sarah Elago, and Eli San Fernando to characterize a youthful era. 

I’m not saying there ought to be a media blackout on Barzaga. We wrote about his resignation from NUP and his criticisms of Romualdez, his failed speakership bid, and the ethics grievance in opposition to him stemming from his jokes about setting the Batasang Pambansa on fireplace, amongst different issues.

However along with his different remarks and shenanigans, we determined to simply pay attention to them, in case they turn into related for a future story.

Barzaga’s actions ought to be lined utilizing a extra important lens. Not doing so dangers elevating a determine whose credentials crumble underneath scrutiny. – Rappler.com