The Philippine Army on Wednesday confirmed the delisting of Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga from its Reserve Force, effective September 21.
Army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said this action was carried out following a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the case and in accordance with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Rules and Regulations, specifically GHQ, AFP SOP No. 7, for actions deemed equivalent to grave offenses.
Consequently, Barzaga loses his status as a member of the AFP Reserve Force and is no longer authorized to wear the military uniform under any circumstance moving forward, pursuant to the Revised Penal Code Article 177 (Usurpation of Authority of Official Function) and Article 179 (Illegal Use of Uniforms and Insignias).
"He (Barzaga) is barred from being commissioned into the AFP Regular or Reserve Force in the future," Dema-ala said.
"While we regret the necessity of this action, the Philippine Army upholds its commitment to discipline, integrity, and accountability. We do not condone violations of military regulations, regardless of status or position, as part of our duty to preserve the professionalism and credibility of the organization," he added.
The Army said that this administrative action does not reflect on the lawmaker's personal character or public service record.
Last month, the Army recommended the delisting of Barzaga from its reserve force after he urged military personnel and reservists on social media to join the September 21 protests.