Imelda confirms KBL shakeup

MANILA, Philippines – Former first lady Imelda Marcos has confirmed the installation of new leaders of the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), the party founded by her late husband, former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1978.

In a letter to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Marcos said Jose Jaime Opinion is the new party chairman and president in lieu of his late father Jaime Opinion.

The certification was among the documents submitted in reply to the petition filed by long-time president Vicente Millora, who is seeking the nullification of Opinion’s installation as new party leader.

Opinion also alleged in the reply that Millora has resigned as party president and that Marcos, KBL president emeritus, affirmed the new leadership.

Millora has contested this, saying Marcos has no authority to reorganize the KBL that he founded in 1992. His petition also states that he has been the party president since 1992 and that he was elected at a convention held at the Celebrity Plaza in Quezon city.

He said the Comelec recognized him as “KBL Millora wing” and that it was under this party that the former first lady ran for president in the 1992 elections.

“In all the elections since 1992 until 2010 the petitioner has been the sole nominating officer of the KBL,” he said.

In 2013, the Millora petition alleged, Comelec recognized Opinion’s late father in his capacity as executive vice president to nominate local candidates after Millora went on leave.