Two 'KBL' senatorial hopefuls file COCs

Two more senatorial hopefuls claiming to be from the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the once dominant party founded by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, filed their certificates of candidacy (COC) for senator on Thursday.

 

Virgilio Galang, a 52-year-old pastor and engineer, and Leo Cadion, a 45-year-old businessman, filed their COCs at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila, both indicating that their party was KBL.

 

"Meron pong ticket [ang KBL]...sa grupo namin dalawa kami...kami po ay dumaan sa mismong opisina ng KBL," Galang told reporters after filing his COC. He was referring to Cadion.

 

Galang admitted, however, that the Marcos family did not assure them of support.

 

"Wala po kami ganung arrangement," he said, adding that his religious organization has committed to fund his campaign.

 

If elected, he said he will teach the people to know God.

 

"Pagtuturo ng pagkilala sa Panginoon. Ang kinatatakutan lang ng tao kapwa taokung ang tao may takot sa diyos gagawin at gagawin pa rin niya ang tama...sa Diyos nagmumula ang tunay na pagbabago," he said.

 

On the other hand, Cadion said that he will enforce "change."

 

"Gusto natin ng pagbabago lalo na ang Senado. Kinakailangan palitan na sila-sila na lang," he said, but did not elaborate.

 

"Basta't kung ano po [yun pagkatapos na lang] ng eleksyon dun po natin malalaman ang pagbabago na sinasbai natin," he said.

 

Aside from Galang and Cadion, two other senatorial hopefuls have earlier registered as KBL members.

 

They were 72-year-old lawyer Oliver Lozano and 61-year-old broadcast journalist Melchor Chavez, who filed during the first day of filing of COCs.

 

Lozano, who was Marcos' former lawyer, is known for filing alleged bogus impeachment complaints against then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

 

In 2007, then-Ilocos Norte governor and now Sen. Bongbong Marcos said Lozano was among their “renegade members who will be handled internally" by the party.

 

“All those people who claim to be KBL stalwarts are an embarrassment to us who have been with the KBL since its inception and even before it was only a movement," he said. — RSJ, GMA News