BY DENNIS GADIL

LAOAG CITY — Ilocos Norte Gov. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called Joselito "Pepito" Cayetano and Oliver Lozano an embarrassment to the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan party founded by his father.

"My father did not create the KBL to be a repository of nuisance candidates," he said in a press conference held for Genuine Opposition (GO) candidates at the provincial capitol.

Marcos, KBL president, said it was possible that Malacañang was behind the candidacy of Joselito Cayetano to derail the bid of GO candidate Alan Peter Cayetano.

"To be perfectly clear, I don’t recognize him (Joselito) as a KBL candidate," he said.

Marcos described Joselito, Lozano and the rest of the members of the KBL senatorial slate as "renegade members."

Marcos said the party would not waste time questioning their candidacies.

"It’s not necessary. Wala namang mangyayari sa kanila," Marcos said.

He said the party leadership would deal with Joselito and Lozano after the elections.

"There’s an election and an on-going campaign. This is not the time. It would only distract us," he said.

Marcos said he believes that Joselito’s candidacy would not ruin the chances of Cayetano.

"I think Congressman Cayetano knows what he’s doing," he said.

Cayetano was not in Ilocos as he has to attend a hearing on his petition against Joselito.

Michael Keon, a nephew of the President Ferdinand Marcos, who plans to run for governor, walked out during the press conference upon learning that he would not be adopted by GO.

Former senator Ernesto Maceda, GO executive committee chairman, said the opposition ticket is adopting Rep. Roquito Ablan (KBL-Lakas) and Marcos as congressional candidates.

GO could not endorse a candidate for governor because Rep. Imee Marcos has yet to make a decision.

Speculations are rife that Imee would retire from politics with Keon as the Marcoses’ candidate for governor.