Celebrities, sectoral leaders endorse Casiño

MANILA, Philippines – As party-list congressman, Bayan Muna’s Teddy Casiño authored House Bill 4443 or the Local Music Industry Incentives Act. 

While the measure was not enacted, certain personalities in the entertainment industry certainly appreciated his good intentions. On Thursday, May 2, they raised Casiño’s hand to endorse his senatorial bid.

Joining the celebrity endorsers at a press conference in Quezon City were sectoral leaders with whom Casiño had worked in the progressive movement.  

Filmmaker Joel Lamangan, Brownman Revival vocalist Dino Concepcion, actor Jeffrey Santos, Datu’s Tribe lead Cabring Cabrera, along with Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairman Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) deputy secretary general Willy Marbella, and Kabataan party-list representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino, raised Casiño’s hand and enjoined voters to support the activist solon. 

Boy Abunda, Chuckie Dreyfus, and Pen Medina gave their video endorsements. 

“Sabi ng nanay ko dapat daw makakuha ako ng celebrity endorser dahil yun daw po ang formula pero sa mga kasama ko ngayon, kuntentong-kuntento na po ako. Kahit hindi malalaking showbiz stars, ito po yung kilala kong may prinsipyo at lakas ng loob,” said Casiño, who is the lone candidate of Makabayan coalition. (My mother said I should get celebrity endorsers because that’s the formula, but I am content with who I am with today. Even if they are not big showbiz stars, they are the ones I know who have principles and courage.)

Earlier, entertainer Willie Nepomuceno endorsed Casiño while impersonating President Benigno Aquino III and former President Joseph Estrada, who is also running for mayor of Manila. 

Despite his low showings in surveys, Casiño is undeterred. In the latest Pulse Asia survey, he placed 23rd to 24th, with 6.5% of respondents saying they would vote for him.

Casiño said he does not factor in survey results in his campaign anymore due to reported discrepancies in survey firms’ procedures. 

“At this point, the surveys don’t matter anymore. It’s too late to have any adjustments,” Casiño said. 

“Whatever the surveys say, we will just do our thing and hope that it leads to results,” he added. 

Casiño is supported by the Makabayan bloc, which is composed of 12 progressive party-list groups: Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, Courage, Migrante, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Akap Bata, Piston, Kalikasan, and Aking Bikolnon. 

A party list representative for 9 years, Casiño is banking on party-list votes to win. He earlier said he is expecting to get 9 million votes based on a survey showing that the Makabayan bloc could receive a total of 9 million votes in the coming elections .

However, Casiño added that he needs 3 to 4 million votes more to win.  

In 2010, the Makabayan coalition fielded former Bayan Muna Rep Satur Ocampo and former Gabriela Rep Liza Maza for the Senate. They both lost. – Rappler.com