For making a scene during the canvassing of the Commission on Election (Comelec) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) senatorial candidate Oliver Lozano was thrown out of the canvassing hall yesterday afternoon.
Leila de Lima, lawyer of Genuine Opposition (GO) senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano, had just taken the floor when Lozano suddenly took the podium.
Lozano, ironically, asked why the votes of his client and fellow KBL senatorial bet Joselito Cayetano had increased overnight from around 700,000 to some one million in a tally published by a broadsheet (not The STAR).
Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos tried to stop Lozano for interrupting the proceedings but the latter went on with his rantings.
Lozano, who defended Joselito when Alan Peter wanted him disqualified from the senatorial race, said that he was withdrawing as the counsel of Joselito, drawing laughter from the crowd.
To this, Abalos replied: “We are here as National Board of Canvassers” and not as Commission en banc so this is not the proper venue for that. You should file your necessary pleadings.”
But Lozano retorted that “I insist ….. to make record of my withdrawal of appearance for Joselito Cayetano.”
Abalos ordered Lozano to leave the floor but the latter refused.
This prompted GO lawyer Sixto Brillantes to whisper something to Lozano. The latter got irked and berated Brillantes: “Ang utak n’ya ay kasing labnaw ng kulay ng buhok nya.” (His brains are as pale as the color of his hair.)
Abalos directed the stenographer not to record such a remark as he ordered the bailiff to take Lozano out of the canvassing hall.
Six uniformed bailiffs immediately took Lozano out of the hall. – Sheila Crisostomo