The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to expel Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga, making him only the second lawmaker in Philippine history to be removed from the chamber by his colleagues.
The expulsion followed a recommendation from the House ethics committee, which found that Barzaga had engaged in repeated acts of disorderly conduct and behavior unbecoming of a member of Congress.
House ethics committee chairman JC Abalos said Barzaga committed a pattern of disruptive actions that interfered with House proceedings.
“Representative Barzaga engaged in a pattern of highly disruptive, discourteous, and disorderly behavior that directly obstructed plenary sessions and desecrated parliamentary solemnity,” Abalos said.
Among the violations cited by the committee were repeated interruptions during plenary debates, public mockery of House leadership, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez, and unauthorized livestreams during budget deliberations.
“The committee finds Barzaga to have committed disorderly behavior and demonstrated conduct unbecoming of a member of the House of Representatives,” Abalos added.
Prior to the vote, Barzaga indicated that he had accepted the possibility of expulsion.
