Ethics, my foot

For the first time in weeks, I laughed out loud at what I read in the news: the suspension of Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga for 60 days following an ethics investigation into the lawmaker’s behavior on social media.

Not that I hold any admiration for this young whippersnapper, but the sanctimonious words that followed from another congressman had me in stitches.

“Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, based on these standards of conduct, the committee finds the social media posts on Facebook […] unbefitting of a House member. The respondent’s reckless, offensive, and irresponsible use of his social media platform tarnishes the name, integrity, and reputation of the House of Representatives,” said 4Ps Partylist Rep. JC Abalos.

More words followed that really had me rolling: Unparliamentary. Unbecoming of a House member.

Really, dear representatives of the Philippines?

What else has tarnished the name, integrity, and reputation of the esteemed House? Ghost projects, maybe? Online gambling while supposedly working? Those are just some of the latest things to hit the fan.

And Kiko, the irrepressible Barzaga, seems intent on uncovering the very filth they so love to hide. The congressman drew ire for posting “lewd photos and an alleged ostentatious display of wealth,” reports say.

The Ethics and Privileges Committee report listed 24 social media posts that it deemed unbecoming of his current position in government. The posts, even the ones he made before he was elected, were “incendiary” and “derogatory” of government institutions.

One wonders, at this point, why Rep. Barzaga joined the government in the first place, granting that he has a very low opinion of it. Perhaps he aims to change it? But how?

Perhaps the ethics committee thought his posts did nothing to uplift the already pockmarked image of Congress in general, especially at a time when confidence in government is at an all-time low.

It is true that confidence in government badly needs restoring, and it has not helped that the infighting and politicking have weakened it even more. Sibling rivalries, family dramas, most notably, have no place as well in institutions that require a higher degree of decorum, but what do we know, right?

We are mere spectators to all the indignities, crassness, and “disorderly” behavior not just seen on social media but on the floor of those hallowed halls.

At this point, while the Filipino people have been practically kicked down by all the corruption cases that have seen the light of day, it behooves our esteemed leaders to think about what they are saying versus what they are actually doing before penalizing an upstart who may be annoying, but who could actually be reflecting our true colors.