House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong defended the expulsion of Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, saying the House of Representatives acted to uphold accountability, decorum, and institutional integrity, not politics.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay media forum, Adiong rejected claims that the action against Barzaga was linked to his perceived support for Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment case is pending before the Senate impeachment court.
The House on Tuesday voted to adopt Committee Report No. 298 of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which recommended Barzaga’s expulsion for disorderly behavior, conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress, and violations of House rules and ethical standards.
Adiong, who also serves as one of the House spokespersons in the Duterte impeachment trial, said lawmakers are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that respects the office entrusted to them by the public.
“Kung ako pong tatanungin niyo personally, because as a colleague, I would expect my colleague to also set a standard wherein his behavior and the way he performs his job is commensurate to the public office that he was elected to,” Adiong said.
He said public office belongs to the people and should not be treated as a personal platform.
“Ibig sabihin po, ’pag ikaw ay pinagkatiwalaan ng iyong taong bayan, parte po sa pagtitiwala ay expectation nila na ikaw ay mag-aasta ka na respetuhin mo ’yung opisina, because you cannot personalize the office,” he said.
“Hindi mo pag-aari ang opisina na ’yan. Pag-aari ng taong bayan ’yan. So rerespetuhin mo talaga yung nag-elect sa’yo,” he added.
Barzaga has been among the more vocal critics of House leaders and the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, often using social media and public statements to criticize fellow lawmakers and question actions taken by the chamber.
Adiong said lawmakers who accuse public officials of wrongdoing should use proper legal and institutional channels instead of making broad allegations without evidence.
“If you have an evidence, if you’re really anti-corrupt crusader, there are venues and democratically legitimate avenue for you to express and to complain, air your complaint on a specific and particular public official,” he said.
He also criticized what he described as Barzaga’s repeated use of unsubstantiated accusations against fellow lawmakers and the House as an institution.
“But what we have seen so far, all through his stay in the House of Representatives, is to besmirch the reputation of individual members of the House simply because he finds joy and happiness by doing that, to belittle the integrity of the House as an institution in coming up with fake and unproven accusations,” Adiong said.
Adiong also pushed back against claims that the disciplinary action violated Barzaga’s freedom of expression, saying free speech carries responsibility, especially for public officials.
“Even free speech is not absolute. Sa lahat po ng action ninyo, meron pong accountability ha. Sa lahat ng action nyo, meron pong kaukulang responsibilidad ’yan. Every action, there’s a consequence,” he said.