Lozano: ‘Not a thousand Bongbong can disown me’

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan senatorial candidate Oliver Lozano has shot back at Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos Jr who called the former and another KBL bet an embarrassment to the party founded by the late dictator. GMA’s Saksi reported early Friday morning that Lozano was not bothered by Bongbong’s remarks and the lawyer and Marcos diehard would still pursue his candidacy. "I sacrificed my name and honor in defense of President Marcos during martial law until his death and beyond," Lozano told the news program in a taped interview. "Therefore not a thousand Bongbong can disown me." On Wednesday, Bongbong said Lozano and Joselito “Pepito" Cayetano are an embarrassment to the party founded by his father. "My father did not create the KBL to be a repository of nuisance candidates," Marcos said during a press conference held for the Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates at the provincial capitol. He added: "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." Marcos, who is running for the congressional district to be vacated by his sister Imee said it was possible that Malacañang was behind the fielding of Joselito Cayetano to derail the bid of GO candidate Alan Peter Cayetano but stressed "we’re not aiding that machination." "To be perfectly clear, I don’t recognize him as a KBL candidate," he said. Marcos called Joselito, Lozano and the rest of the "purported" KBL senatorial slate as "renegade members who will be handled internally" by the party. The outgoing Ilocos Norte governor nevertheless said the party would not waste its time questioning their candidacies before the Commission on Elections (Comelec). "We can question (their candidacies), but there’s no point actually. It’s not necessary...," Marcos said. Marcos, KBL’s president, said the party should have fielded senatorial candidates who have chances of winning. Marcos said Joselito and Lozano would be dealt with by the party leadership after the elections. "There’s an election and an ongoing campaign. This is not the time. It would only distract us," he said. Marcos said he doesn’t believe Joselito’s candidacy would not hurt Cayetano’s candidacy. "I don’t think [Joselito] is ruining his candidacy. I think Congressman Cayetano knows what he’s doing," he said, noting that he spoke with the GO candidate over the phone and was personally informed about his absence during the Ilocos swing of the GO ticket. Cayetano has sent formal notice to the GO campaign team that he could not attend the Ilocos sortie since he was to attend a hearing on his petition against Joselito Cayetano. - GMANews.TV