FVR man challenging Iggy anew

BACOLOD CITY – The appointments secretary of former President Fidel Ramos is challenging Rep. Ignacio "Iggy" Arroyo anew in the Negros Occidental fifth district congressional race.

Former Rep. Apolinario Lozada, who filed his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections provincial office Tuesday, said he is not unfazed by perceptions that he is running against a well-oiled legislator.

Lozada, a foreign service officer and economist, served the fifth district for two terms before Arroyo trounced him in the 2004 elections.

He is running under the Liberal Party-Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan. Despite his being a founding member of Lakas, the party dropped him in 2004 in favor of Arroyo.

"If everything is based on money, then nothing will really happen in this country," Lozada said, adding that he is optimistic that he has a big chance of getting back his congressional seat.

"I think everything is very favorable for me at this time," he added.

Lozada, however, declined to comment on Arroyo’s current marital woes, saying that he does not want to take advantage of the issue.

"Let us put this democratic exercise on a much higher plane," he said.