Vico Sotto reacts to some netizens comparing him to Kiko Barzaga

• Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto addressed online comparisons between him and Cavite Representative Kiko Barzaga during his guesting on Pia Hontiveros’ podcast The Pod Network

• Sotto said he does not personally know Barzaga and believes the comparisons are just part of social media culture

• He shared that while he hopes people would stop the comparisons he understands that it is a normal occurrence online

• Kiko Barzaga is a young lawmaker known for his animal welfare advocacy Gen Z personality and viral online presence which earned him the nickname Congressmeow

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto addressed recent online comparisons between himself and Cavite Representative Kiko “Congressmeow” Barzaga during an appearance on “Let’s Talk With Pia Hontiveros” on The Pod Network Entertainment hosted by Pia Hontiveros.

When asked about the comparisons, Sotto said he doesn’t personally know Barzaga and sees the comparisons as part of social media culture that he wished wasn’t so. “I don’t really know him. I think there’s really no reason for comparing. I understand it’s a normal thing for people, especially online. Sana hindi na, pero ganon talaga online e,” he remarked, as quoted by Inquirer.

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Francisco “Kiko” Austria Barzaga is the Representative for Cavite’s Fourth District, having assumed office in 2025; he is known for his relatively young age (born in 1998), animal welfare advocacy (particularly for stray dogs and cats), a quirky Gen Z persona that he leans into (earning him the nickname “Congressmeow”), and being a member of the Barzaga political family in Dasmariñas. 

Barzaga went viral and captured public attention for several reasons: the aggressive use of social media, frequent public jabs at political figures, his campaign jingle and cat-themed branding, bold stances on government accountability issues (including criticism of leadership and calls for investigations), and recent controversies including recommendations that he be delisted as an AFP reserve over social media posts. 

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto is widely recognized as a face of “good governance” in local government, often highlighted for his policies centered on transparency, integrity, and public service. Over the years, he has repeatedly expressed strong opinions against practices and systems he believes hinder government progress. On this issue, Sotto’s stand against alleged paid interviews is seen by some as a continuation of his advocacy for accountability and clean leadership.

In a previous report by KAMI, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto released a statement after his controversial criticism of some media personalities who allegedly received payment from the Discaya couple. The mayor clarified that his point was not to seek attention, but to spark discussion on issues that the media and government must address as part of improving the country. In the pilot episode of “Models of Manila,” Sotto said that the first step to change is acknowledging and accepting the problem, even before accountability. Meanwhile, Julius Babao and Korina Sanchez strongly denied the allegations that they received money from the Discaya couple in exchange for interviews.

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Adding to the buzz, actor Gardo Versoza also became a topic of discussion after posting about Vico Sotto. Recently, Gardo shared his honest thoughts about the Pasig City mayor, calling him the country’s “last card.” The veteran actor also engaged with netizens who commented on his post, further fueling the conversation.

Source: KAMI.com.gh