The thorn that is Kiko Barzaga

In recent weeks, Filipinos have been introduced to Gen Z Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Austria Barzaga of Dasmariñas, Cavite.

- Todd Sales Lucero

Formerly part of the majority, he resigned from the ruling Partido Federal Party and established himself as an independent lawmaker. He’s been the subject of many talks and insinuations, from his unusual and eccentric personality to whispers about his mental health. But it does not change the fact that this rather unusual young representative is saying the right things, stuff that ordinary Filipinos want to hear; that the corruption in flood control projects leads to former speaker Martin Romualdez.

As speaker during the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budget deliberations, Romualdez should at least have been cognizant of these anomalies. As Barzaga puts it, either Romualdez is corrupt and part of the flood control mafia, or at the very least was inept and incompetent for allowing these billions of pesos to be stolen left and right. For many lawmakers, Kiko Bargaza has indeed been a thorn in their side and sycophants of the ruling party have filed ethics complaints against the neophyte congressman.