Kumontra ang limang kongresista sa ipinataw ng Kamara na 60 araw na suspensyon na walang sahod kay Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga noong Lunes, Disyembre 1.
Sa plenary session, binasa ni 4Ps Rep. JC Abalos ang findings ng komite na nagsasabing nagkasala si Barzaga ng disorderly behavior dahil sa umano’y hindi angkop at bastos na mga post at larawan sa kaniyang social media accounts.
Umabot sa 249 kongresista ang bumoto pabor sa suspensiyon, habang 11 ang nag-abstain at lima ang kumontra.
Maki-Balita: 'Guilty sa ethics complaint!' Kiko Barzaga, 60 araw suspendido, wala ring suweldo
Middle forces, Marcos bloc kailangang magkaisa para 'di manalo Duterte bloc sa 2028—Antonio Trillanes
Ang limang kongresistang kumontra ay sina SAGIP Party-list Rep. Paolo Henry Marcoleta, Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando, Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Robert Nazal, Quezon CIty 4th district Rep. Jesus "Bong" Suntay, at Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste.
Ayon kay Rep. Marcoleta, anak ni Senador Rodante Marcoleta, ginagamit lamang daw ni Barzaga ang kaniyang "freedom of speech" pagdating sa pagpo-post sa social media.
"I rise to place on record this manifestation of support for honorable Francisco 'Kiko' Barzaga and to express my strong opposition to any move seeking his suspension from this august chamber," saad ni Rep. Marcoleta.
"From Voltaire's philosophy of tolerance and freedom of expression, this line of often quoted: 'I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.' The independence of the legislature ensures that members may speak fully, frankly, and fearlessly on matters of public interest," giit pa niya.
"Honorable Barzaga's statements directed at corruption within the government falls within the urgent falls within the fullest and most urgent category of political expression. To penalize him for raising concerns on corruption which the Constitution itself mandates Congress to check is to subject the very principle of parliamentary privilege."
Tila pareho rin ang pahayag ni Rep. San Fernando kaugnay sa suspensyon ni Barzaga.
"Totoo na maraming nasabi, pinahayag at ginawa ang kinatawang si Rep. Barzaga na hindi aakma sa pamantayang inaasahan sa isang halal na opisyal," aniya.
"While I agree that us lawmakers are held to a higher degree of ethics and decorum, such should not work as to stifle free speech and debate. Lawmakers must be free to say what we want, especially on issues involving national importance," dagdag pa niya. "Rep. Barzaga's actions and words may not fit the usual mold of a traditional lawmaker, but who decides if the mold or what mold is correct?"
"Ganito ho ba tayo kabalat-sibuyas at allergic sa mga naiibang pananaw? Should our subjective judgements of Rep. Barzaga's ethics supplant the will of the electorate?"
Giit pa ni Rep. San Fernando na makabubuting ipaubaya na lamang ito sa mga nasasakupan ni Barzaga kung gusto man nila o hindi na siya ang maging kinatawan nila sa Kongreso.
Para naman kay Rep. Nazal, masyadong malupit ang 60 araw na suspensyon na walang sahod.
"My vote of 'no' reflects two deeply-held convictions. First, although the respondent's conduct was inappropriate, crass, and unbecoming of a member of Congress, I respectfully submit that the proposed 60-day suspension is grossly disproportionate to the offenses alleged," saad ng mambabatas.
"If he has indeed acted beneath the dignity of his office, then by all means reprimand him, hold him into account. But discipline must also be commensurate to the transgression, and in this case I believe this august chamber is responding with excessive severity," ika pa ni Rep. Nazal. "Second, voting 'no' does not mean condoning his acts; it is instead a principled affirmation that fairness and due process are indispensable."
Sinisi rin niya ang resolusyon ng ethics committee dahil sa hindi tiyak o malinaw na pagtukoy sa mga aksyon ni Barzaga.
"Without such clarity, how can he meaningfully defend himself before the entire House?"
Kuwestiyonable naman para kay Rep. Leviste ang naging suspensyon sa kapwa mambabatas.
“Ang boto ko ay no hindi dahil perpekto si Cong. Barzaga, pero dahil kuwestyunable para sa akin na minadali natin itong desisyon dahil ngayong hapon lang natin nakuha ang committee report na ito at si Cong. Barzaga lang ang sinampahan ng kaso ng Committee on Ethics,” saad niya.
“Ang boto ko ay 'no' lalo na dahil inuuna natin ang kaso niya kaysa sa mga mas seryosong isyung kinakaharap ng isa sa mga kasamahan natin. Isang kapwa ko Batangueño na nandito ngayon na bumoto sa kaso ni Cong. Barzaga,” dagdag pa niya.
