Casiño files COC, offers change in 2013 senatorial race

By MAKABAYAN (PR)

QUEZON CITY — Partylist Representative Teddy Casiño filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) on a daring quest to be the alternative senatorial candidate in a contest dominated by incumbent and former senators and their relatives today, October 3.

“Ang tanong ng marami, wala na bang iba? Kaya nga po ako nangangahas na tumakbong senador ay para may iba naman,” said Casiño.

“For so many decades, the same old political clans and vested interests have dominated the Senate. I want to break that stranglehold. I want to bring the voice of the common tao, especially the poor and marginalized who make up the majority in our country, into the halls of the Senate,” said the three-term party list congressman.

He said the Senate was like a restaurant that served nothing but expensive, rich, fatty steaks. “It’s time we changed the menu. Lagyan naman natin ng simple, mura ngunit masustansyang pagkain katulad ng pinakbet o talbos ng kamote. Yung pang-masa naman.”

Casiño vowed to run on a three-point platform of lower prices of basic utilities, more jobs and livelihoods as well as better government.

Clad in a blue running attire, Casiño and his supporters held a symbolic run even with the heavy rain from the San Agustin Church to the Commission on Election (Comelec) office in Intramuros where he was met by his family, fellow party-list representatives and hundreds of other supporters from all walks of life.

He also passed by the San Agustin Church where his brother, Fr. Peter Casiño, is assigned.

“Ito na po talaga. Wala nang atrasan. Ang masisiguro ko po lamang ay ibubuhos natin ang lahat upang manalo tayo at magkaroon ng boses ang karaniwang tao sa loob ng Senado,” Casiño told the crowd.

Casiño registered as the sole senatorial candidate of the independent Makabayan Party Coalition composed of several party list groups, civil society and NGO networks as well as local politicians. “We will be relying on non traditional machineries and methods of campaigning.”

Casiño is the current chairperson of the House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development and senior vice chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education.

Prior to his election to Congress, Casiño was a distinguished student leader and an activist involved in various causes and social movements. As Bayan Muna partylist congressman, he spearheaded the filing of various social reform measures and was recently awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Congressman by the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc. # nordis.net