NBI files ethics complaint vs Kiko Barzaga over assassination accusation
National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag has filed an ethics complaint against Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga over the lawmaker's post during the Senate shooting incident.
According to a News5 report, the NBI cited a violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, which criminalizes the spreading of false news and unauthorized or unlawful public statements.
Matibag presented nine posts by Barzaga, including some that have been deleted, in which the Congressman claimed there was an assassination attempt at the Senate on May 13 evening.
The NBI director added that they will file criminal charges against Barzaga next week.
"Meron siyang violation of the Revised Penal Code, Art. 154, publishing untrue statements. Tapos, we're reviewing inciting to sedition also, and [he] can be liable under the code of ethics of government officials," Matibag said.
"During that time na may nangyayaring incident na may gulo, parang finufuel mo pa lalo 'yung kaguluhan. Instead of behaving properly and calling for sobriety and mas mapayapang pamamaraan, parang dinagdagan mo pa lalo para magkagulo 'yung tao."
Matibag also noted that Barzaga could be expelled from the House of Representatives.
"I think based on the rules of ng House Committee, 'pag may mga infraction pa siya—there's a warning already sa kanya rin noon, so baka dapat 'to removal from public office already. I think that's the penalty that should be given [under] the circumstances," he said, adding that Barzaga was previously suspended over disorderly behavior in connection with his social media posts.
On May 13, Barzaga posted a video titled "Senate Assassination Attempt."
"Andito tayo ngayon sa Senado. Tingnan niyo ang daming police dito at mukhang unsuccessful 'yung assassination attempt na ginawa nila. May nagbarilan dun sa loob, and I believe they tried to kill a few senators in order to change the Senate leadership," the lawmaker claimed.
He previously made several posts making similar claims.
On June 2, Barzaga accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of being behind the ethics complaint against him.
"Inutusan ni Marcos ang NBI na [mag-file] ng Ethics Complaint laban sakin[.] [M]ukhang naapektuhan siya sa pagbaba ng trust ratings niya," he wrote.
The neophyte lawmaker was suspended in December 2025 over posts that were deemed offensive and seditious. He made a joke about Batasang Pamabsa being burned down. His suspension was extended for two more months in February.
Earlier in the year, he surrendered to police following a cyber libel complaint against him.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said that all evidence pointed to the fact that there was "no attack" on the Senate following the shooting incident.
It was also determined that the Senate's Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca fired the first warning shot, causing an NBI agent in the nearby GSIS building to send out his own "cover shots." Investigations revealed that all bullet holes came from inside the Senate building, and there were no shots from the outside.
