Kiko Barzaga

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Kiko Barzaga
Rep. Francisco Barzaga (20th Congress).jpg
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Cavite's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
June 30, 2025
Education De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (did not finish)
OccupationPolitician
NicknameCongressmeow [1]

Francisco "Kiko" Austria Barzaga (born September 12, 1998) is a Filipino politician and animal welfare advocate who has served as the representative for Cavite's fourth district since 2025. During his tenure, he also served as an assistant majority leader from July 2025 until his resignation in September that year. A member of the Barzaga political family based in Dasmariñas, he served as a member of that city's council from 2019 to 2025 and an ex officio member of the Cavite Provincial Board as the president of Philippine Councilors League for the province from 2022 to 2025.

Contents

Barzaga is the second-youngest member of the 20th Congress after Tingog Party List representative Andrew Julian Romualdez. Barzaga is an independent after resigning from the National Unity Party in 2025.

Early life and education

Francisco "Kiko" Austria Barzaga was born on September 12, 1998 [2] to then Dasmariñas mayor Elpidio Barzaga Jr. and then Barangay San Simon councilor Jenny Barzaga (née Austria). [3] He was named after his ancestor Francisco E. Barzaga, who had served as municipal president of Dasmariñas in 1900. [4] He is also the older brother of incumbent Dasmariñas vice mayor Elpidio "Third" Barzaga III and Lorenzo Barzaga.

Barzaga had delayed his college pursuit as of 2017 due to his political preparations, which led to his election as a Dasmariñas city councilor in 2019. He then enrolled at the De La Salle University – Dasmariñas in 2022 to pursue a degree in political science. However, he dropped out in 2025 during his third year due to the demands of his alderman duties and congressional candidacy. In an interview with Ogie Diaz, he had also stated plans to transfer to Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmariñas and to take up a veterinary course. [5]

Political career

Dasmariñas City Council (2019–2025)

Barzaga in 2023 Kiko Barzaga 2023.jpg
Barzaga in 2023

Barzaga ran for a seat in the Dasmariñas City Council during the 2019 elections and 2022 elections and successfully won both of them. [6] In 2022, he endorsed the successful presidential and vice-presidential campaigns of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, respectively, as well as their UniTeam ticket. [7] Later that year and during his second term as councilor, he was named president of the Philippine Councilors League Cavite Chapter, earning him an ex officio seat on the Cavite Provincial Board. [8]

House of Representatives (2025–present)

Barzaga ran for House Representative of Cavite's fourth district, aiming to replace his late father, Elpidio Barzaga Jr., who died in office on April 27, 2024. [9] [10] [11] He, along with his mother and brother, won the election. [12] [13] In a post-election interview by News5, Barzaga stated he has no plans to run for national level positions. [14]

2025 campaign jingle and style

Barzaga's 2025 campaign jingle for congressman was a cover of Haring Manggi Miguelito Malakas's song "Lupaypay" and even sang by Haring Manggi himself. [15] The jingle went viral due to its catchy tunes and the fact that Barzaga's campaign was very associated with cats. Labor leader and 2025 senatorial candidate Luke Espiritu criticized Barzaga, saying he won not because of his campaign style but because he is part of a political family. [16]

20th Congress

Barzaga supported House Speaker Martin Romualdez's successful reelection and became a member of the majority bloc during the 20th Congress' commencement on July 28, 2025. [17] The next day, Barzaga was named as an assistant majority leader under House majority leader Sandro Marcos (President Bongbong Marcos's son and Speaker Romualdez's nephew). [18]

On September 10, 2025, Barzaga left the National Unity Party (NUP) after he was supposedly accused by Deputy Speaker and party chairman Ronaldo Puno that he solicited signatures to remove Speaker Romualdez, a claim which Barzaga denied. He also left the majority bloc and gave up being an assistant majority leader to join the minority bloc. [19] [20] He also called for an investigation into alleged irregularities in flood control funding while Speaker Romualdez was the legislative caretaker of Cavite's 4th District following the death of Barzaga's father Elpidio Jr. in April 2024, claiming anomalies may have occurred during Romualdez's oversight. [21] In addition, he had also publicly criticized Sandro Marcos, President Bongbong Marcos, Senate President Tito Sotto, and Senator Ping Lacson on Facebook regarding such investigation. [22]

On September 15, 2025, the NUP announced its intent to file an ethics complaint against Barzaga, citing four possible violations: failing to reflect creditably on the House, engaging in unlawful and immoral acts, inciting seditious activity, and conduct unbecoming of a member of Congress. [23] [24] On September 16, Barzaga expressed his intent to replace Romualdez as speaker and hoped Sandro Marcos will support him. Barzaga said he had one or two House members that are willing to support him for speakership. [25] However, following Romualdez's resignation as Speaker on September 17, Barzaga was not nominated for the speakership and chose to abstain from the election, which resulted in Bojie Dy being elected as the new Speaker. [22] On September 24, Barzaga admitted plotting a coup d'état against Speaker Dy and publicly endorsed Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco as Speaker. [26] [27]

Deputy Speaker Janette Garin alleged that Barzaga invited her to be part of an independent "meow" bloc in the lower house of the Congress. [28] A few days prior, she voiced concern over his "meow-meow" interjections during sessions and his unannounced speakership bid, noting his behavior was causing confusion and was inappropriate for the House's decorum. [29] Barzaga did not attend the protests on September 21, citing prior commitments in Dasmariñas. [30]

On September 23, Barzaga filed an ethics complaint against Puno accusing him of misconduct. [31]

Political positions

Animal welfare

Having pet cats himself, [4] Barzaga has animal welfare as one of his well-known platforms, calling himself as "Congressmeow" and using cat motifs for his campaign for the 2025 election. [32] [33] He also positioned himself as pro-posadog (stray cats and dogs) [34]

Barzaga advocates for veterinary services. He has implemented spay-neuter programs in Dasmariñas, an initiative he hopes to be implemented at a nationwide scale. [34]

Inspired by Senator Bong Go's Malasakit Centers, Barzaga wants to provide medical assistance for cats and dogs and create a Malasakit Center for them. [35] [36]

Artificial intelligence

Barzaga proposed regulation for AI on a Facebook post and in another separate post he said that AI is a violation of copyright and believes it will damage the art industry. He also believes that full disclosure must be made on the usage of AI for political and commercial purposes. [37]

Death penalty

Barzaga has proposed the punishment of death penalty for various crimes including mass murder, rape, habitual littering, and animal abuse.

He stated that "Penalties for small crimes like littering should gradually become more severe for repeat offenders.", if the offender reaches the 50th offense, they should get imprisoned and by the 100th offense, they should get the death penalty, [38] however, the death penalty was abolished nationwide in the Philippines in 2006. [39] Barzaga later defended this proposal. [40]

For animal abusers he proposed the death penalty by firing squad. [41]

Barzaga proposed that mass murderers and child rapists should be executed reasoning that keeping them alive in prison for decades is a waste of government resources. [42] [43] He also indirectly suggest that rapists who are minors must be given the death penalty believing that since they committed the crime at a young age that they have "no future" in society. [44]

Political dynasty

A member of a political dynasty himself, Barzaga believed that the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Bill will fail to pass because majority of Filipino politicians belong to such dynasties and would be unlikely to vote against their interests. [45]

Personal life

Kiko Barzaga is a self-admitted nepo baby and member of a political dynasty. He claims that his political family is among the oldest in Cavite. [46]

Electoral history

Electoral history of Kiko Barzaga
YearOfficePartyVotes receivedResult
Total%P. Swing
2019 Councilor (Dasmariñas) NUP 158,9574th—Won
2022 212,7811st—Won
2025 Representative (Cavite–4th)165,94250.371st—Won

References

  1. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (September 10, 2025). "Barbers barks back at 'congressmeow' Barzaga's call to probe Romualdez". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Francisco Austria Barzaga". Rappler. September 17, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  3. ↑ de Leon, Dwight (May 13, 2025). "Barzaga dynasty wins seats for mayor, vice mayor, congressman in Dasmariñas". Rappler. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ogie Diaz (September 17, 2025). Cong. Kiko Barzaga, walang paligoy-ligoy! Sinagot lahat ang isyu! | Ogie Diaz. YouTube (in Filipino). Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  5. ↑ Balita Online (September 18, 2025). "Rep. Kiko Barzaga, inaming college dropped out". Balita - Philippine News (in Filipino). Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  6. ↑ Bueza, Michael (August 30, 2019). "MAP: Major political families in PH after the 2019 elections". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  7. ↑ Pacpaco, Ryan Ponce (March 23, 2022). "Cavite folk, leaders all-out for UniTeam". Journal News Online. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ "City Of Dasmariñas - Cavite: Eleksyon 2022". GMA News. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ de Leon, Dwight (March 4, 2025). "2025 polls in Cavite: Few competitive races, most dynasties have no contest". RAPPLER. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Cavite congressman Barzaga dies at 74". www.philstar.com. April 29, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ Oliquino, Edjen (April 27, 2024). "Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. passes away at 74". Daily Tribune. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ de Leon, Dwight (May 13, 2025). "Barzaga dynasty wins seats for mayor, vice mayor, congressman in Dasmariñas". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Gaborne, King Kenneth (May 17, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga elected Cavite congressman, takes over late father's post" . Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  14. ↑ News5Everywhere (May 23, 2025). Kilalanin ang Viral Gen Z Congressman ng Dasmariñas, Cavite (Video). Retrieved July 1, 2025– via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ "KIKO BARZAGA CAMPAIGN JINGLE 2025". Facebook . March 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ Mendoza, Ralph (May 24, 2025). "Espiritu kay Barzaga: 'Nailagay ka sa pwesto kasi dinastiya ka!'". balita.mb.com.ph.
  17. ↑ Shay Du; James Patrick Cruz (July 28, 2025). "LIST: Who are in the House majority, minority blocs in 20th Congress?". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  18. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (July 29, 2025). "'Congressmeow' Barzaga, 3 'House Hotshots' named assistant majority leaders". Manila Bulletin .
  19. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico. "Barzaga leaves NUP, disputes claims of soliciting signatures vs Speaker" . Retrieved September 10, 2025.
  20. ↑ de Leon, Dwight (September 10, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga quits NUP after being linked to alleged ouster plot vs Romualdez". RAPPLER. Retrieved September 11, 2025.
  21. ↑ "'Betrayal of trust': Kiko Barzaga resigns from NUP, calls for probe into Romualdez flood control funds".
  22. 1 2 Quismorio, Ellson (September 17, 2025). "Unpredictable Kiko Barzaga provides comic relief during House Speakership vote". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  23. ↑ de Leon, Dwight (September 15, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga faces House ethics complaint, accused of 'potentially' inciting to sedition". Rappler. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 15, 2025). "NUP to bring Barzaga's behavior before House ethics panel". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
  25. ↑ Mendoza, Red (September 16, 2025). "Barzaga ready to fight Romualdez for speakership". The Manila Times.
  26. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (September 25, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga openly plotting Speakership coup, hounding Sandro Marcos for his backing". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  27. ↑ ANC (September 24, 2025). Kiko Barzaga pushes for Tiangco as House Speaker, wants Dy to resign | ANC. YouTube . Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  28. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (September 19, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga strikes again, invites Garin to join 'independent meow bloc'". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  29. ↑ Dizon, David (September 16, 2025). "'Wag kang meow ng meow': Garin nagsalita sa ugali ni Rep. Kiko Barzaga". ABS-CBN News (in Filipino). Retrieved September 19, 2025.
  30. ↑ Talampaso, Cocoy (September 20, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga skips anti-corruption protests in Manila: 'I'll be with you in spirit'". Politiko. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
  31. ↑ Gregorio, Agatha (September 23, 2025). "Rep. Barzaga files ethics complaint vs. Rep. Puno". ABS-CBN. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  32. ↑ Gabinete, Jojo (September 11, 2025). ""Congressmeow" Kiko Barzaga, gustong paimbestigahan si Speaker Martin Romualdez". PEP.ph (in Filipino). Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  33. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (July 13, 2025). "Congressman-elect Barzaga unapologetic about pro-'posacat' stance". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  34. 1 2 "Congressmeow Barzaga cites need to control 'posadog' population in first privilege speech". Manila Bulletin. August 21, 2025. Retrieved September 17, 2025.
  35. ↑ Tolentino, Ariel Jerald (August 11, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga wants Malasakit Center for cats, dogs". politiko.com.ph. Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  36. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (August 10, 2025). "'Meowlasakit Centers', anyone? Barzaga inspired by Bong Go's signature program". Manila Bulletin .
  37. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (June 20, 2025). "What is Kiko Barzaga's take on AI? Read on". Manila Bulletin .
  38. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (July 25, 2025). "For Kiko Barzaga, littering should be punished with death penalty if..." Manila Bulletin .
  39. ↑ "Philippines bans death penalty". Al Jazeera. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  40. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (July 28, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga defends proposal to impose death penalty on recidivist litterers". Manila Bulletin .
  41. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (August 2, 2025). "Death penalty for animal cruelty? Yes, says 'Congressmeow' Barzaga". Manila Bulletin .
  42. ↑ Garcia, Kate (August 10, 2025). "'Congressmeow' nais na din isulong death penalty sa mass murderers, rapists". balita.mb.com.ph.
  43. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (August 9, 2025). "'Tapusin! Tapusin!': Kiko Barzaga doesn't want to keep murderers, rapists alive in jail". Manila Bulletin .
  44. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (August 16, 2025). "'Wala nang future?': Kiko Barzaga says minors who commit rape should be executed". Manila Bulletin .
  45. ↑ Quismorio, Ellson (July 23, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga gives real talk on Anti-Political Dynasty Bill". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  46. ↑ Santiago, Ervin (September 18, 2025). "Kiko Barzaga nagsalita na sa pine-flex na kaperahan, aminadong Nepo Baby". Bandera (in Filipino). Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
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