Bohol Paradise Hills Resort and Hotel

03/12/2025

Where in the world do we suspend a congressman simply because of his beliefs? In what kind of democratic society do we punish an elected representative—not for stealing, not for abusing funds, not for committing crimes—but for speaking his mind and exposing massive corruption at the highest levels of government?

The suspension of Cong. Kiko Barzaga is not discipline. It is suppression. It is a warning to silence anyone who dares to question President Marcos and the corruption surrounding his administration. The message is clear: fall in line or be punished.

Democracy dies when dissent becomes a threat. Congress exists precisely so representatives can question, debate, criticize, and expose wrongdoing without fear of political persecution. When a lawmaker is punished for telling the truth, it’s no longer democracy—it’s intimidation.

If the administration truly believed in transparency and accountability, it would welcome scrutiny, not crush it. But instead of addressing billions of pesos in corruption, they choose to silence the voices pointing to it.

The real danger to the nation is not Cong. Barzaga’s words.
The real danger is a government so afraid of the truth that it must suspend those who speak it.

In moments like this, silence is complicity.
Standing with Cong. Kiko Barzaga is standing for democracy itself.

- Former Congressman Mike Defensor

03/12/2025

Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga on Monday issued a strong statement following the House Ethics Committee’s ruling finding him guilty of disorderly behavior and recommending his 60-day suspension without pay over alleged misconduct on social media.

Addressing his colleagues after the decision was released, Barzaga said he fully respects the committee’s findings but reaffirmed his criticisms of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“I wholeheartedly accept the decision of the house, but I maintain my stance that President Marcos must be held accountable for his crimes,” Barzaga declared, adding that “Too many people have died, and too much money was plundered from the Filipino People for us to stand down now.”

03/12/2025

How do you repair a damaged institution like the House of Representatives? Definitely not through silencing Rep. Kiko Barzaga. Has he caused more damage than the institutional thievery?

Kiko is a neophyte and his speech and actuations may not sit with you, the “nobility class” who loves pocketing taxpayers money. His speech is protected as it is part and parcel of the right to do so.

Interestingly, it was a fast break of a Committee Report. Jumping over various referrals, the Committee Report was not even made public and an order to be present on a Monday to vote on the report was made.

There was no plenary debate and it was just the chair reading the recommendation and a nominal voting was immediately called for with the young freshmen Asst Majorities muscling their way through even wrongly interpreting the Rules. Such crass display of power. Oh by the way, the Majority Floor Leader is the son of the president.

It was a dangerous precedent and the human rights advocates again swayed in favor of the institution. The majority made Kiko Barzaga an example of how the Dy-backed Sandro Marcos House will deal with dissent.

And their cowardice had the microphone turned off while Rep. Barzaga was explaining.

Who filed the ethics case? Rep Ronnie Puno, the erstwhile point of an oligarch-backed political party. Tell me what’s wrong with our politics and I will tell you what goes on. Unbelievable hubris!

By the act of the majority, you sullied further a damaged institution. By your act, Barzaga will be a household name and the icon of GenZ. Dig that!

- Malou Tiquia

02/12/2025

02/12/2025

29/11/2025