Tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. files cyber libel complaint vs Rep. Kiko Barzaga
Business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. has filed two counts of cyber libel against suspended Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga.
The complaint, filed before the Makati City Prosecutor's Office, is linked to Barzaga's Facebook posts alleging members of the National Unity Party accepted bribes from the billionaire to support former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in the 2025 midterm elections. The post has since been deleted.
The congressman made further posts about the alleged bribery case on Jan. 13, claiming that he will provide evidence in a speech when he returns in February.
He also commented on House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, chairman of NUP, saying cases would be filed against the Cavite representative.
"Congressman Puno may file a case against me, it will only prove that he was bought by Enrique Razon in court," Barzaga wrote, later posting photos of an alleged meeting attended by Razon, Rep. Dan Fernandez, Senate President Tito Sotto, and Sen. Ping Lacson.
In another post, Barzaga used the hashtag "#IkulongSiRazon."
Razon denied the neophyte lawmaker's accusations of him being the "mastermind behind the corruption in Congress," saying that the claims were knowingly false or made with reckless disregard for the truth.
Furthermore, the businessman called the allegations implausible, as Romualdez ran unopposed and won with a supermajority of votes to be reelected as House Speaker in 2025.
Razon's filing argued that Barzaga's accusations crossed the line into criminal defamation, as he used the hashtag "#IkulongSiRazon."
Razon is seeking civil damages of at least P100 million for moral damages and P10 million in exemplary damages, citing harm to his reputation and emotional distress.
Following the complaint, Barzaga said that he is prepared to face Razon in Court. "The sooner, the better! #IkulongSiRazon."
Barzaga was suspended by the House of Representatives for 60 days on Dec. 1 for disorderly behavior in connection with his "offensive" social media posts.
Meanwhile, Razon is among the richest people in the Philippines in 2025. He's in the no. 2 spot with $11.5 billion (P658.3 billion). The businessman chairs International Container Terminal Services Inc., the country's largest port operator. (with reports from Richmond Mercurio)