Manila, Philippines – Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga is facing a new cyberlibel case after Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando M. Valeriano filed a complaint before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.
This marks the third cyberlibel case filed against Barzaga this week.
The cases against Barzaga stem from his viral social media post in which he accused National Unity Party (NUP) lawmakers of accepting bribes in exchange for political support.
The first complaint was filed by tycoon businessman Enrique Razon, whom Barzaga allegedly accused of providing money to NUP lawmakers during a gathering at Solaire.
The post claimed that Razon was responsible for the bribes in exchange for supporting the re-election of Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 2025 elections. Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno also filed a separate complaint against the Cavite lawmaker.
According to Valeriano, Barzaga’s accusations have no basis or proof and have put the reputation of the lawmakers at risk. He emphasized that the accusation was not only directed at one person but at the entire party and its individual members.
Valeriano also said, the statement is a direct public accusation of bribery against identifiable members of the NUP bloc, and constitutes an imputation of a serious crime made without evidence and published through a widely accessible social media platform, further arguing that the post was widely circulated online in a manner that maximized reputational harm.
Barzaga previously apologized to Razon during a podcast hosted by radio broadcaster Mon Tulfo, stating that he is ready to face the consequences of the complaints.
Meanwhile, several lawmakers are pursuing their own legal remedies, underscoring that the NUP remains united in defending its members and upholding institutional integrity. The NUP is currently the second largest political party in the House of Representatives.