Independents mull third force in senate race

Independent senatorial candidate Teddy Casiño yesterday said a third force in the 2013 national election may evolve to provide an alternative to mainstream political parties.

Casiño, incumbent representative of the Bayan Muna party-list in the 15th Congress said there are ongoing talks with fellow independent senatorial candidates Eddie Villanueva and Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn. The party-list congressman was in Cebu to campaign in urban poor communities in barangays Suba, Pasil and Ermita.

He said, the alliance may address their shortfall in campaign funds and finances aside from basic agreement on their reform agenda.

Meanwhile, with two and half months remaining before the May 13 vote, Casiño said he is concentrating on his non-traditional campaigning, which include campaign runs with supporters and focused campaigning in poor communities nationwide.

Recent SWS survey results show that nine LP candidates and three from UNA will make it to the top 12 senatorial posts if the elections were held today. But Casiño said it was still too early to already presume winners in the May 13 election.

“We are still in the early part of campaigning. We should realize that these candidates (landing top 12 spots in the SWS survey) are the giants in Philippine politics. This is a challenge for me to break through decades of their political dominance,” he said.

The closest to the winning circle among the independents and smaller political parties in the recent SWS survey is Villanueva who ranked 22nd./Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac