MANILA, Philippines – Pinatalsik ng Kamara si Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga dahil sa hindi maayos na mga gawi at conduct unbecoming ng pagiging isang House member, kabilang ang paulit-ulit na bigong magawa ang trabaho nito bilang isang mambabatas.
Ayon kay House ethics panel chairperson at 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos, ang expulsion ang nararapat na parusa para kay Barzaga dahil hindi ito nagbago kahit pa dalawang beses nang pinatawan ng 60-day suspension nang walang bayad.
Kabilang sa mga tinukoy sa ethics complaint laban kay Barzaga na inihain ni dating House Deputy Speaker Janet Garin ng Iloilo ay ang:
pag-uugnay sa dating party-mates, National Union Party, at tycoon na si Enrique Razon sa korapsyon nang walang kaukulang dokumento o accounts;
pang-aasar sa mga kasamahan sa Kamara at paghahalintulad sa mga ito sa buwaya sa larawan na ipinost sa social media;
pag-aakusa sa mga kasamahan ng pagiging sangkot sa pagkamatay ng isang lokal na opisyal na nasawi dahil sa accidental firing;
pagiging magulo sa mga plenary session ng Kamara sa biglang pagla-livestream para magbigay ng mga hindi magagandang pahayag.
“With the representative having meted, in two instances, 60-day suspensions, the Committee considers that another penalty of suspension will not likely deter the improper behavior which continuously reflects negatively on the image of the House of Representatives,” sinabi ni Abalos sa kanyang sponsorship speech ng Committee Report na nagrerekomenda ng pagpapatalsik kay Barzaga.
“Therefore, the Committee approves the recommendation of the imposition of the most severe penalty of expulsion from office upon Representative Francisco ‘Kiko’ A. Barzaga pursuant to Section 16, paragraph 3, Article VI of the Constitution, Section 142, Rule 20 of the Rules of the House of Representatives and Section 52(b)(5), Rule 9 of the Committee Rules,” dagdag pa niya.
“After a thorough deliberation on the case, the Committee finds Respondent Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ A. Barzaga of the Fourth District of Cavite to have committed disorderly behavior and demonstrated conduct unbecoming of a Member of the House of Representatives by violating Section 141(a) and (b), Rule 20 of the House Rules, and Section 4(A)(b) of Republic Act No. 6713,” sinabi ni Abalos.
“Republic Act 6713 explicitly commands all public officials to observe professionalism as a core standard of personal conduct. The actions of the respondent fell dangerously short of this standard. His conduct undermined the collective duty of this august body to legislate with dignity and decorum.”
Samantala, kinwestyon naman ni Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco, ang pagpapatalsik kay Barzaga at iniisip kung nararapat ba sa kanya ang ganito katinding parusa.
“He made mistakes, but the penalty should be commensurate with the offense,” ani Tiangco. RNT/JGC
