12/09/2025
LOOK | In a follow-up post on social media, Cavite 4th-District Representative Francisco βKikoβ Barzaga intensified his criticism, saying he no longer cared if House Speaker Martin Romualdez would cut off his remaining budget in retaliation.
Following Barzaga announced his exit from the National Unity Party (NUP) on Wednesday, citing a "betrayal of trust" and calling for an investigation to Romualdez over alleged irregularities in the use of public funds for flood control projects.
Barzaga made headlines after openly urging a probe into Romualdezβs supposed involvement in anomalies linked to the multi-billion peso flood control program.
While Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong previously offered only a knowing smile when asked about speculation that Romualdez may be leading a highly organized syndicate behind the alleged corruption, Barzaga did not mince wordsβexplicitly naming the House Speaker and demanding accountability.
βWhile 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,β Barzaga said. βI will also be leaving the majority since I voted for Speaker Romualdez due to my partyβs instructions.β