Who is Kiko Barzaga? Cavite Lawmaker Resigns from NUP, Denies Plot Against Speaker Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines – Cavite 4th District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga has resigned from the National Unity Party (NUP) after being accused of joining a supposed plot to unseat House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The lawmaker strongly denied the allegations on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

Why Kiko Barzaga Resigned from NUP

Barzaga revealed that NUP chairman and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno implicated him in a move to collect signatures for Romualdez’s removal. He rejected the claim, calling it “false.”

“While the betrayal of trust is disappointing, I believe it is in the best interests of both myself and the National Unity Party that we go our separate ways,” Barzaga said.

He added that since he only voted for Romualdez under his party’s instructions, leaving the majority bloc was the most logical step after resigning from NUP.

Who is Kiko Barzaga?

Kiko Barzaga is a first-term lawmaker representing Cavite’s 4th District, which covers Dasmariñas. He entered politics after winning the 2025 elections to replace his late father, who passed away in April 2024.

After his father’s death, House Speaker Romualdez was temporarily assigned as caretaker of the Cavite district until the elections.

Calls for Investigation Into Romualdez

Now sitting as an independent lawmaker, Barzaga is pushing for an investigation into possible anomalies in flood control funds during Romualdez’s time as caretaker of Cavite’s 4th District.

He claimed the issue must be reviewed to ensure transparency in government spending.

Political Tension in the House

Barzaga’s resignation comes amid renewed rumors of efforts to unseat Romualdez as Speaker. Over the weekend, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin accused the House of “shifting the blame for corruption and failures” onto the Executive Branch.

Despite the controversy, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega said Romualdez remains secure as Speaker, with strong support from major political blocs including Lakas, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, NUP, Nationalist People’s Coalition, and the Party-List Coalition Foundation.