Suspended Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga has not submitted the corrected version of the ethics complaint he previously filed against House Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City Lone District Representative Ronnaldo Puno, according to 4Ps Partylist Representative JC Abalos.
Abalos, chair of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, said in a television interview that the panel found Barzaga’s complaint “defective in form and in substance” when it was first reviewed.
“And we actually returned to him the complaint in order to give him a chance to make the necessary corrections,” he said.
The lawmaker declined to reveal details of the complaint, citing confidentiality rules for cases involving House members. He noted that returning complaints for correction was standard procedure.
“But for now, I could assure you that for all complaints, not just the counter complaint of Rep. Barzaga against Rep. Puno, marami na po tayong ibinabalik na complaints sa mga complainants at binibigyan po namin sila ng pagkakataon na i-correct ’yun,” Abalos said.
He explained that Barzaga’s filing failed to specify the acts supposedly violating the law.
“Sa aking pagkakaalala may mga (na-cite) na violations of law si (Barzaga). Kaso lang po the specific acts complained of weren’t indicated in the complaint. Yun lamang po ang hinihingi namin,” he said, adding that clear allegations were necessary “to conduct the proper investigation in accordance with our rules.”
Abalos said the complaint was returned months ago, but Barzaga “didn’t correct the complaint anymore.” Still, he clarified that the case is not closed.
Asked if this meant the complaint was dead, Abalos replied: “He can still file it if he wishes so.”
He added that he was unsure if a refiling deadline exists, but stressed the dismissal was “without prejudice to filing a correct complaint.”
Abalos reiterated the importance of properly filed ethics cases, emphasizing that any citizen or agency head may lodge a complaint, and dismissals must not hinge on technical lapses. He declined to name other lawmakers involved in ongoing or filed complaints, in line with committee rules.