FACT CHECK: Kiko Barzaga remains suspended from House

Claim: Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga’s suspension was lifted due to the assistance of Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Rodante Marcoleta.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube channel News Update Files posted a video on December 5 claiming that Barzaga’s 60-day suspension has been lifted. As of writing, the video has gained more than 36,000 views, 2,900 likes, and 340 comments. The channel itself has about 37,800 subscribers.

The video’s thumbnail shows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. holding a sign that says “Kiko Barzaga Unsospended [sic] Confirmed” with an image of Barzaga, Duterte, and Marcoleta taking a selfie together. Text overlaid on the image reads, “Nag-sanib pwersa na! Barzaga unsuspended na tinulungan ni VP at Marcoleta.”

(They’ve joined forces! Barzaga unsuspended, helped by VP and Marcoleta.)

The contents of the video itself seem to be derived from one of the streams by vlogger Banat By, who has previously been the subject of a cyber libel complaint.

The facts: Barzaga remains suspended from the House of Representatives due to disorderly behavior. 

On December 1, a total of 249 lawmakers voted to suspend the lawmaker for 60 days because of his “reckless, offensive, and irresponsible use of his social media.” This decision stemmed from a complaint filed by Barzaga’s former party mates at the National Unity Party, who flagged inappropriate social media posts from the Cavite representative, including posts that supposedly demeaned women and undermined confidence in government institutions. (READ: LIST: The social media posts that got Kiko Barzaga in trouble)

Barzaga has also been accused of inciting sedition over potentially dangerous rhetoric, such as jokes about burning the Batasang Pambansa. 

No collusion: The video provides no evidence of Marcoleta, Duterte, and Barzaga allegedly colluding to lift the latter’s suspension. 

Barzaga, once a Marcos ally, has become a more vocal critic of the administration and made statements drawing the attention of Duterte supporters. The Vice President, however, has previously denied involvement with Barzaga’s actions.

Reacting to Barzaga’s suspension, Duterte said Barzaga’s suspension was troubling and that it was “part of a series of efforts to silence voices that speak uncomfortable truths.”

Authority to lift suspensions: Article VI, Section 16 of the Constitution states that each chamber of Congress — the Senate and the House of Representatives — is autonomous in disciplining its own members. Only the House of Representatives has the power to impose sanctions on its own members. 

Neither the Senate nor the Vice President has the authority to lift the suspension of a member of the House. 

Debunked: Rappler has previously debunked a false claim about Barzaga’s supposed arrest.

Rappler has also fact-checked claims regarding the Duterte clan:

• FACT CHECK: Spliced news report used to falsely claim Duterte is back in PH
• FACT CHECK: Video of Duterte urging public to support Sara in 2028 is AI-generated
• FACT CHECK: ICC did not reverse decision rejecting Duterte’s interim release
• FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte did not replace Marcos as president

– Seth Maquiling/Rappler.com

Seth Maquiling is a Rappler volunteer for the research and data unit. He is a third-year creative writing student from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a former feature writer for Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s the LANCE.

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