Lakas stalwart joins FPJ because of Iggy

Administration party stalwart Rep. Jose Apolinario Lozada resigned yesterday from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) after the party hierarchy failed to settle the conflict between him and presidential brother-in-law Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo.

With exactly three months to go before the May 10 national elections, Lozada warned that some 30 to 40 members from all over the country are set to abandon the Lakas party. He did not name names.

The younger brother of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo is challenging Lozada for the congressional seat in the fifth district of Negros Occidental under the banner of Kampi, the original party of President Arroyo.

While he has been endorsed as official Lakas candidate, Lozada expressed doubt on whether he has the support of the President.

"I am the official Lakas candidate while Iggy is the official Kampi candidate. We are being pitted against each other. I cannot really imagine a party (that) has two candidates," Lozada told reporters at yesterday’s inauguration of the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) headquarters on Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

"How can you separate the President from her brother-in-law," said Lozada, who is now back in the fold of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP) which is supporting the presidential bid of KNP standard-bearer Fernando Poe Jr. Lozada said he was a member of the LDP before he helped former President Fidel V. Ramos organize Lakas in 1992.

Lozada was earlier stripped of his position as Lakas vice president for international affairs and provincial chairman for Negros Occidental. Ignacio Arroyo, on the other hand, took his leave as regional Lakas chairman when he filed his bid for the congressional seat.

Ignacio Arroyo was put into the spotlight last year in August after claiming he was "Jose Pidal," the alias Sen. Panfilo Lacson alleged was used by the First Gentleman to launder millions of pesos in secret bank accounts.

"They pushed me against the wall and I had enough. Now I feel used and betrayed. It pains me that a loyal party man is himself a victim of political maneuverings within his own party," Lozada griped. — With Nikko Dizon and Antonietta Lopez