(UPDATE) VICE President Sara Duterte has criticized the 60-day suspension of Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco Barzaga, calling it as a part of a series of efforts to “silence voices that speak uncomfortable truths.”
Barzaga was suspended by the House Ethics Committee for conduct unbecoming of a House member for posting lewd photographs on his social media account and “ostentatious display of wealth.”
The neophyte lawmaker, however, said his suspension was due to his criticisms of the Marcos administration.
“In less than a year, we witnessed the kidnapping of a former president and the filing of incitement to sedition charges against several individuals — including myself — simply because we dared to question those in power,” Duterte said.
She reiterated that dissent should not be treated as a threat, and the right to speak freely is a “fundamental right guaranteed and protected by our very Constitution.”
“This is the right of every Filipino, especially public servants who have the duty to reveal the truth,” Duterte said.
She said that if someone like Barzaga, who is elected by the people, can be silenced, it could be done to ordinary Filipinos who do not have the power or position.
“Democracy demands courage. Democracy demands the freedom to speak and the freedom to question. I stand with every Filipino who refuses to be intimidated,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Duterte bloc in the House has also supported the five lawmakers who voted against Barzaga’s suspension and the 11 congressmen who abstained during the plenary session last Monday.
