NUP Member Sues Cavite Cong. Kiko Barzaga over Alleged Cyberlibel
KIKO BARZAGA – The suspended Cavite Fourth District Congressman is now faced with the third cyberlibel complaint filed against him.
Billionaire Enrique Razon recently filed cyberlibel charges against suspended Cong. Barzaga following the young lawmaker’s claim against him on social media. Razon has always been popular as a ports and casino magnate but he has lived a private life amid his name being a constant in the list of the richest people in the Philippines.
Enrique Razon demands at least P110 million from suspended Cong. Kiko Barzaga — P100 million in moral damages and P10 million in exemplary damages. According to him, Barzaga’s claim damaged his reputation and caused him emotional distress.
The issue stemmed from a supposed social media post of Cavite 4th District Cong. Kiko Barzaga wherein he claimed that Enrique Razon allegedly bribed several congressmen of the National Unity Party (NUP) in exchange of support for Leyte Cong. Martin Romualdez to remain as the House Speaker in the 20th Congress. The billionaire stressed that Romualdez won supermajority votes.
According to Razon, Barzaga “crossed the line from political speech into criminal defamation”. The young Congressman also called for the imprisonment of the businessman.
Cavite Cong. Kiko Barzaga is currently on a suspended status in the House of Representatives due to his “offensive” social media posts even prior to the issue with Enrique Razon. The suspension is set to expire in February. However, ahead of it, there are now three (3) cyberlibel complaints filed against him.
NUP chairman and House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of Antipolo City filed a cyberlibel complaint against Barzaga yesterday. The NUP is the second biggest political part in the lower chamber.
Recently, reports that the third cyberlibel complaint against Cavite Cong. Kiko Barzaga has been filed today. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the complaint was filed by NUP member and Manila Second District Rep. Rolando Valeriano.
Based on the report, Valeriano stressed that Barzaga’s now-deleted social media post “was made maliciously and with reckless disregard for the truth”. According to him, it is an affront not just to one member of their political party but to the entire NUP.
“It was intended to stain a whole bloc of legislators through one sweeping allegation, without evidence, without verification, and without accountability,” the lawmaker added.
Amid the charges and issues against him, Cavite Cong. Kiko Barzaga said he will say sorry to billionaire Enrique Razon.