MANILA — The Philippine Army (PA) has officially removed Cavite Fourth District Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga Jr. from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reserve Force. The delistment, which took effect on September 21, 2025, follows an internal review that found the lawmaker’s actions equivalent to a grave offense under military regulations.
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala confirmed the administrative action, stating that the decision was made in accordance with the General Headquarters, AFP Standard Operating Procedure No. 7, which addresses grave offenses by reservists. The move stems from Barzaga’s social media posts where he allegedly urged military, police, and reservists to join anti-corruption protests and insinuated that the uniformed services had lost trust in the Commander-in-Chief, President Marcos Jr.
Violations and Consequences
The military stressed that Barzaga’s statements, particularly when accompanied by photos of him wearing a military uniform, endangered the AFP’s position as a non-partisan organization and amounted to insinuating sedition. The Army cited violations of the Revised Penal Code, specifically Articles 177 and 179, which pertain to usurpation of authority and the illegal use of uniforms and insignias.
As a direct result of the delistment, Representative Barzaga loses all privileges as a reservist. He is no longer authorized to wear the military uniform under any circumstances, and he is permanently barred from future commissioning into either the AFP regular or reserve ranks. Barzaga, who held the rank of Private, was only enlisted into the Reserve Force in January 2025, meaning his tenure lasted only eight months before his delistment.
Commitment to Non-Partisanship
The Philippine Army emphasized that the action was necessary to preserve the professionalism and credibility of the organization. Col. Dema-ala stated, “We do not condone violations of military regulations, regardless of status or position.” The Army, however, clarified that the administrative action is “purely administrative” and does not reflect on the lawmaker’s personal character or his public service record as an elected official. The AFP continues to remind all personnel and reservists to uphold military professionalism and non-partisanship as enshrined in the AFP Code of Ethics, emphasizing that their role is to serve the nation, not any single political faction.
