He served in the legislature as the representative of the second district of Surigao del Norte (1992–1996), whose second term was ended by his appointment as secretary of the interior and local government, and as senator (1998–2004).

[10] When Lim became the director of the National Bureau of Investigation in 1990,[10][11] he took Barbers and designated him as chief of the NBI Police Special Task Force.

[8] Barbers' second term in the 10th Congress was cut short when he became part of the cabinet of president Fidel Ramos, who appointed him as secretary of the interior and local government[3][6][9] which he assumed on April 16, 1996.

[13] While focusing on campaign against illegal drugs, he launched programs in relation to fight against criminality,[8] as well as for the reformation and welfare of the Philippine National Police.

Among the notable accomplishments of PARAC within a year were the apprehension of drug traffickers and a gambling lord, neutralization of eight of the country's most wanted individuals including a Laguna politician involved in the murder of a human rights lawyer, as well as the eradication of marijuana plantations in northern Luzon.

[13] Another program, Barangay at Pulisya Laban sa Krimen, was implemented to strengthen community involvement in the peace and order campaign.

[14] Barbers was noted still being active in law enforcement in his term;[6] he authored over a hundred bills mainly focusing on the fight against criminality.

[16] Barbers, a stalwart of the Lakas–CMD party, was twice considered as running mate to then presidential candidates, Jose de Venecia Jr. in 1998 and incumbent Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo in 2004.

[9] His name was mentioned in the controversial "Hello Garci" tapes, whose transcripts showed him calling then election commissioner Virgilio Garcillano to ensure his victory.

[10] In 1995, he formed a group of would-be devotees which composed of workers of a folk music bar in Malate, Manila, where he had used to frequent while being a policeman.

[24] Barbers, who had suffered throat cancer,[6] flew to the United States and underwent surgery in November 2000,[3][9] missing the impeachment trial of then president Estrada in the Senate.