Cayetano namesake, a no-show at disqualification trial

Senatorial candidate Joselito Pepito “Peter" Cayetano did not show up on Wednesday’s hearing on his disqualification case at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), QTV’s Balitanghali reported. Genuine Opposition (GO) senatorial candidate Alan Peter Cayetano filed a disqualification case against his namesake, after the Comelec last week, included Joselito in the list of 37 candidates given “due course" to run for senator. Only the daughter of lawyer Oliver Lozano, Evangeline showed up at the hearing. Lozano is Joselito’s party mate under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL). Lozano filed two impeachment complaints against President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He also filed the same complaints against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos. Many House members claim that Lozano is a man of Malacañang. The opposition described Lozano’s complaints as weak and thus, had no chance to stand the impeachment trial Evangeline said Joselito and his father could not make it to the hearing as they were campaigning in Roxas City. Alan attended the hearing and urged the poll body to immediately decide on Joselito’s case. The Taguig-Pateros congressman earlier accused the Arroyo family of hiding multi-million dollar accounts at the Hypovereinsbank in Munich, Germany. Allan was with the opposition’s spokesperson Adel Tamano, campaign manager San Juan Mayor Jose Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito, senatorial candidate Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III and Florencio Abad. Leila de Lima, the lawmaker's counsel, presented a copy of a letter from KBL president Ferdinand "Bong-Bong" Marcos Jr, Ilocos Norte governor stating that there was no party caucus or convention that endorsed the candidacy of Joselito for senator. Alan's counsel also submitted evidence proving that Joselito's real nickname is “Jojo" and not “Peter." In his position paper submitted to the Comelec, Joselito said he was not a nuisance candidate. He said he filed his candidacy earlier than Alan’s. He added there should be no issue on the aliases they use because Alan registered “Compañero" as his nickname.-AMITA LEGASPI, GMANews.TV