Further sanctions against embattled Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga were opposed by four lawmakers allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, saying additional punishment would be tantamount to issuing a gag order on the lawmaker’s constitutional right to freedom of speech.

The call was made in a letter sent to Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III by Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao City 2nd District Rep. Omar Duterte, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab, and PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte.

“We express our strong opposition to the reported extension of the suspension being pushed against Rep. Kiko Barzaga. A handful of members of the House Ethics Committee cannot, and should not, presume to supersede the will of the thousands of voters who elected Rep. Barzaga to represent his congressional district,” the lawmakers said.

They added that Barzaga’s mandate comes from the people, not from the shifting sensibilities of a few colleagues.

Earlier, Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano sought additional sanctions against Barzaga over what he said was a breach of the current terms of his suspension order due his social media posts accusing port tycoon Enrique Razon of allegedly bribing lawmakers of the National Unity Party to vote for then Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Also drawing Valeriano’s ire were Barzaga’s remarks that the late Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop is now “suffering through eternal damnation” due to alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects, that Acop “left the comfort of his luxurious mansion in exchange for a bit of eternal hellfire,” and that such “is the fate of all corrupt politicians.”

Razon and Valeriano filed separate cyberlibel complaints against Barzaga over the social media posts.

Currently, Barzaga is serving a 60-day suspension without pay due to disorderly behavior in relation to his allegedly inappropriate social media posts that were the subject of the complaint against him.

The House ethics panel is expected to present its further recommendations on the Barzaga case before the House plenary session on Wednesday, 5 February, as he allegedly violated the terms of his current suspension order.

The four lawmakers said Barzaga’s right to free expression is explicitly protected by the Constitution.

“Political speech — especially when it is critical, sharp, or uncomfortable — is not a punishable offense in a democratic society. If any party believes they have been legally wronged or defamed by Rep. Barzaga’s statements, the proper venue is the courts of law, not the House Ethics Committee acting as arbiter of acceptable opinion,” they said.