FOUR lawmakers from Davao City have voiced their opposition to the extension of the suspension against Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga, arguing that the House is denying the constitutional rights of those who voted for the legislator.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Dy, Reps. Paolo Duterte (first district), Omar Vincent Duterte (second district), Isidro Ungab (third district), and Harold Duterte of the PPP party-list stated that the House Committee on Ethics should not interfere with the mandate of the legislator.
“A handful of members of the House Committee on Ethics should not override the mandate given to Barzaga by his constituents. His mandate comes from the people,” the lawmakers asserted.
The lawmakers further argued that the constitution guarantees constitutional protections for free expression, stating that political speech, even if critical, should not be used as a basis for punishing an individual.
They believe that any alleged defamation committed by Barzaga should be resolved in court and not by the Ethics Committee acting as a judge of acceptable political opinions. “Disciplinary powers must never be used to silence dissent or override the democratic choice of the people,” the statement concluded.
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