Bongbong still heads KBL

LAOAG CITY – Former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos clarified yesterday that her son Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. remains as the president of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the once dominant political party founded by the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Mrs. Marcos issued the clarification in the wake of differences within the KBL camp which she said are "beginning to cause some confusion."

KBL is trying to make a comeback in the national elections by fielding six senatorial candidates for the May 14 polls.

The KBL senatorial candidates who have filed their certificates of candidacy are lawyer Oliver Lozano and controversial Joselito "Peter" Cayetano from Davao City.

The other KBL bets for the Senate are former singer Victor Wood, Commander Bogs Hassim, Gen. Eduardo Oropilla, Antonio Estrella, journalists Bobby Enciso and Mel Chavez.

Cayetano’s candidacy, questioned by Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, was approved pursuant to the consensus at the KBL’s last convention last Jan. 27.

The congressman said the candidacy of the "Peter Cayetano" from Davao is intended to spoil the votes intended for him because of the confusion that could arise from two candidates with similar nicknames and surnames.

In a letter sent to the Commission on Elections, Vicente Millora, who claims to be the KBL chairman and president, said the nomination of Lozano, Cayetano and the others were approved during a KBL convention and the allegations of Rep. Cayetano are not a basis to withdraw the KBL bet’s candidacy.