He was born in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur to a Filipina mother and an American father who was a soldier from the Barbieri clan from Sicily, Italy.

[6] In July 1987, sources, particularly from the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency reported that former Assemblyman Rafael Recto allegedly conspired with Barbers and a group of military officers in a coup plot against the Aquino administration.

[9] In 1987, Barbers (a retired police general; former vice mayor, WPD superintendent) ran for representative of the third district of Manila under the united opposition, NP–Grand Alliance for Democracy;[10][11] but later lost to Leonardo Fugoso of the Liberal Party (LP)–Salonga Wing, prompting an electoral protest wherein he accused the board of canvassers of "hastily" proclaiming the winner.

[12] Later that year, Barbers was among those who later defected to the administration camp, and was later proclaimed by Jovito Salonga, then president of both the Senate and the LP, as their official candidate for vice mayor of Manila in the 1988 elections.

[9] In late March 1996, Barbers was elected member of the board of directors of BF Homes Inc., and also became the senior vice president.