By Danielle Tiu
MANILA — The National Unity Party (NUP) is hitting back at Cavite Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga after he accused party members of taking bribes to support former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
NUP president and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno called the allegations “baseless and defamatory,” noting that Romualdez ran unopposed in the 2025 speakership race. “The idea that bribes were handed out under these circumstances doesn’t make sense,” he said.
Puno plans to file legal action personally, and other NUP members mentioned by Barzaga are considering their own cases.
Barzaga, a first-term lawmaker and former NUP member, claimed businessman Enrique Razon distributed money to secure Romualdez’s election. Puno slammed the accusations as reckless, pointing out that Barzaga’s statements tarnish the party he once belonged to and that his father once led.
This comes after Barzaga was suspended for 60 days by the NUP and faced prior ethics complaints over inappropriate posts and social media controversies.
