Makabayan lone candidate aims to 'break rules' in campaign
-A A +AWednesday, October 3, 2012
MANILA -- The lone senatorial candidate of the Makabayan Coalition, a new political party, is seeking to "break the rules" of the campaign as he vowed to give the electorate a "real choice" in the 2013 midterm polls.
Representative Teddy Casiño of the Bayan Muna party-list filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator at the main office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Wednesday morning.
Clad in a jogging suit, Casiño literally ran from San Agustin Church to the Comelec office at Palacio de Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila. He was joined by his family and fellow Bayan Muna party-list Representative Neri Colmenares.
He said the run symbolizes that his running for Senate needs hard work and preparation. "Hindi birong bagay at kasama ko sa pagtakbong ito ang sambayanang Pilipino," he said.
Casiño admitted that running for Senate despite the absence of political machineries of neither the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) nor the Liberal Party (LP)-led coalition is a big challenge.
He noted that those who are running under the two prominent parties are relatives of former and current political figures holding various key positions in government.
"Panahon na para magkaroon ng iba sa Senado. We really aim to break the rules of the campaign," the lawmaker said.
The coalition, accredited as a political party in January this year, will tap its grassroots machinery to campaign on "platforms of issues and not so much on personalities and guns, goons and gold."
In the 2010 national elections, Casiño's fellow Makabayan Coalition members, Liza Maza and Satur Ocampo, ran under the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manny Villar. Both candidates lost with only close to four million votes each.
If he wins in the 2013 polls, Casiño said he will push for the reduction of the value-added tax (VAT) on basic commodities. He proposes to slash the VAT by six percent.
The Bayan Muna legislator also vowed additional livelihood for Filipinos and a platform of good governance. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
Forum rules: Do not use obscenity. Some words have been banned. Stick to the topic. Do not veer away from the discussion. Be coherent and respectful. Do not shout or use CAPITAL LETTERS!
