Makabayan aims for 12.44M votes for Casiño Senate bid

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño on Friday was officially proclaimed as the lone senatorial candidate for Makabayang Koalisyon ng Mamamayan (Makabayan) – the alliance of 12 party lists and progressive groups.   Makabayan announced that they are targeting a total of 12.44 million votes to secure Casiño a seat in the Senate in the 2013 midterm elections.   “Ito ‘yung mga commitment ng mga local chapters namin nationwide… Nagtayaan na ng mga target per region. Fortunately, umabot ng more than 12 million. We are happy na realistic ‘yung target namin,” Casiño told reporters at the sidelines of the coalition’s second national convention.   Casiño is on his last term as Bayan Muna Representative having served for three terms starting 2004.   Makabayan Secretary-General Nathaniel Santiago noted that if Casiño garnered the target votes the Bayan Muna Represenative will bag at least the twelfth senatorial post, citing that Senator Teofisto Guingona III snagged the last seat in the 2010 senatorial election by garnering some P10.2 million votes.   Makabayan is composed of five party list groups namely: Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis, Gabbriela, ACT Teachers and Kabataan. The coalition has also seven progressive groups under its belt such as Courage, PISTON, Migrante, Kalikasan, Katribu and Akap-Bata.   Lessons learned   Meanwhile, Casiño noted that they have learned our lessons after progressive groups’ candidates in the 2010 senatorial elections lost big time.   Gabriela Partlist Rep. Liza Maza garnered only P3.8 million votes ranking at the 25 slot, while Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo fell one notch below with 3.3 million votes.   “Bottomline, we have learned our lesson. And, we are applying the lessons for the 2013 elections,” Casiño said.   Makabayan to endorse senatorial candidates   Although Makabayan coalition had only a lone senatorial standard bearer, Satur Ocampo, the coalition’s president, told GMA News Online that they will be endorsing other senatorial aspirants.   They were:  

• Cynthia Villar, Nacionalista Party, running as guest candidate under Liberal Party
• Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, PDP-Laban, running as guest candidate under Liberal Party
• Allan Peter Cayetano, Nacionalista Party, has not announced candidacy with any parties
• Loren Legarda, National People’s Coalition, running as guest candidate under United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)
• Chiz Escudero, National People’s Coalition, has not announced candidacy with any parties

  Asked why he did not run under established parties or coalitions, Casiño said: “We feel na we can be more effective as an alternative, independent candidate kung sarili naming partido ang tatakbuhan.”   He added that they still reviewing whether Makabayan would add another  add another candidate for senator in the 2013 polls.   “We are still exploring the possibilities of coming up with a progressive slate, pero ‘yan ay one of the options  [pa lang],” the third poorest House of Representative member said.   ‘No strings attached’   Casiño revealed that some businessmen have donated funds for his campaign. He said this will not pose a conflict of interest between him and the businessmen.   “Fortunately a number of businessmen have donated and signified their intentions in helping us dahil naniniwala rin sila sa ating mga pinaglalaban. [Pero] ‘yung ang isang sinabi namin, no strings attached. You help us because you believe in our platforms, so that is the requirement,” the 44-year-old congressman said.   Apart from traditional campaign contributors, Casiño noted that they have been studying grassroots- and internet-based funding.   “We will get from contributors pero ‘yung isang pinag-aaralan namin ‘yung grassroots based fundraising, ‘yung piso-piso, sampu-sampung piso. Tapos we are trying to tap the internet as a source of fund,” he added.