Political bigwigs back Casiño’s Senate bid

MANILA, Philippines – Political bigwigs are backing the senatorial bid of Bayan Muna Rep Teodoro “Teddy” Casiño, who will run as independent in the 2013 elections.

Among those who attended his formal announcement on Friday, September 7, are Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel Jr, House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr, and senatorial aspirant former Las Piñas City Rep Cynthia Villar.

All these bigwigs are administration allies. Pimentel is running for re-election under the banner of the administration coalition. Villar, another senatorial aspirant, belongs to Nacionalista Party – which has coalesced with the administration for the 2013 elections. Belmonte belongs to the ruling Liberal Party.

Casiño’s formal announcement was made during the National Convention of the Leftist Makabayan group, a coalition composed of at least 8 party-list groups: Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Kabataan, Katribu, Migrante, Courage, and ACT.

Based on earlier reports, Casiño was eyed to join the NP senatorial slate but talks fizzled out when it eventually coalesced with LP. (Makabayan supported NP president Senator Manuel Villar’s presidential bid in 2010.)

Makabayan has a voters base of about 3 million. In 2010, the coalition fielded two senatorial candidates. Former Bayan Muna Rep Satur Ocampo got 3.5 million votes and former Gabriela Rep Liza Maza got 3.8 million votes.

Based on 2010 election results, a candidate needs about 11 million votes to win a Senate seat. The Makabayan coalition said they will work hard to make Casiño win.  – Rappler.com

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