Cavite congressman Elpidio Barzaga Jr. dies

MANILA, Philippines: Cavite 4th District Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. passed away Saturday afternoon (Manila Time) in San Francisco, California, according to his office. He was 74 years old.

His office did not specify the cause of his death.

Barzaga was the first representative of Cavite’s Fourth District, which is composed of the City of Dasmariñas since it became a separate district in 2007 until 2016.

He became mayor of the City of Dasmarinas from 2016 to 2019 before returning to Congress in 2019.

“His dedication to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation transformed lives and shaped the future of his constituents. He will be remembered for his compassion and relentless pursuit of justice,” his office said.

Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. FILE PHOTO

Barzaga was born on March 25, 1950 and received his bachelor of laws degree from Far Eastern University.

Among the committees he chaired was the Committee on Natural Resources, while also becoming vice chairman of the Committees of Cooperatives Development, Games and Amusements, Legislative Franchises, and Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

It was during the ABS-CBN franchise renewal controversy in 2020 when Barzaga, as the vice chairman of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, accused the erstwhile media giant of possible violations in its franchise, including its violation of its constitutional limit on foreign ownership, which the lawmaker focused on during the hearings.

Barzaga is survived by his wife, Dasmarinas City Mayor Jennifer Barzaga, and his sons, Cavite Board Member Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga, Elpidio “Third” Barzaga 3rd, and Enzo Barzaga.