By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Former ambassador and representative for the Negros Occidental fifth congressional district Jose Apolinario ‘Jun’ Lozada, Jr. passed away yesterday morning of a brain hemorrhage at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City.

The former lawmaker was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014. He was 67.

He previously served as congressman from 1998 to 2004, where he was known for penning RA 9225, or the Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.

Lozada also previously held ambassador posts to Palau, Austria, and the Holy See.

He also served as an adviser to former President Fidel Ramos.

Lozada’s remains will be returned to his residence in Barangay Quintin Remo, Moises Padilla./DGB, WDJ