MANILA—Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta criticized the suspension of Representative Kiko Barzaga, saying the House action was not simply an ethics matter but an attempt to silence dissent and discourage scrutiny of governance issues.

In a statement, Marcoleta said Barzaga’s posts—cited by the House Committee for alleged ethics violations—were intended to raise awareness, engage constituents, and use commentary or humor to spotlight issues of public concern.

“The suspension of Rep. Kiko Barzaga is not merely a dispute over ethics—it is about silencing dissent. It is a reaction to his efforts to spotlight deeper, long-standing problems that demand public scrutiny,” Marcoleta said.

He argued that the Committee “chose to penalize expressions that sought to withdraw attention to issues affecting governance, accountability, and public welfare,” adding that stretching ethics rules to cover criticism turns oversight mechanisms “into a tool of political control.”

Marcoleta said public officials commonly use social media to communicate with constituents, and penalizing such posts “sends a message that only sanitized and approved speech is safe,” contrary to the transparency expected in ethical governance.

“By responding with punitive action instead of engagement, the Committee signals an unwillingness to confront these systemic problems, shielding the very ills that Rep. Kiko Barzaga sought to expose,” he said.

He added that in a democratic society, government must listen to grievances and criticism rather than suppress them, saying trust in institutions depends on openness to public feedback.

“Sa isang lipunang demokratiko, tungkulin ng pamahalaan na pakinggan ang mga hinaing at kritisismo at hindi ang supilin ang mga ito dahil dito nakasalalay ang tiwala ng mamamayan at ang lakas ng ating mga institusyon,” he said.

Marcoleta warned that suppressing political expression weakens the country’s democratic processes.

“In the end, silencing criticism harms democracy itself. If raising concerns or speaking candidly becomes punishable, citizens and representatives alike will hesitate to voice legitimate issues,” he said. “Sa tunay na demokrasya, ang boses ng tao—sa anumang paraan ito ipinararating—ay hindi pinapatahimik—ito’y pinakikinggan.”