Casiño hints at senate run, says new blood needed in Upper House

Naga City - Party list Rep. Teddy Casiño, today hinted at a possible senate run next year as big political parties start filling out their senatorial slates and gear up their political machineries for the 2013 election.

Speaking at a gathering of local leaders in this city, Casiño said: "'What the Upper House and the Filipino people need are not the same old names who came from the same old politcal clans. Ang kailangan natin ay mga bagong dugo na maghahatid ng tunay na boses ng karaniwang tao sa Senado."

Casiño is on his third and last term in Congress, representing the country's marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

Talking about his obvious underdog status, Casiño said: "Sino nga naman ba ang isang Teddy Casiño na makikipagsabayan sa mga malalaking pangalan sa pulitika ng bansa? Hindi naman ako galing sa pamilya ng mga pulitiko. Hindi ako milyonaryo. But this is not about me. Its about you and the quality of representation that you want in the Senate."

"Kung sakali man, ang masisiguro ko lang ay ipaglalaban ko ang interes ng mga mahihirap at karaniwang tao sa Senado tulad ng ginawa ko sa 15 taon ko sa lansangan at 9 na taon ko sa Kongreso. Mula sa paglaban sa mataas na presyo ng kuryente, langis at mga bilihin hanggang sa pagtataguyod ng kabuhayan ng bawat pamilya, hindi natin iyan titigilan,' he said.

'What the big political parties should understand is that elections should be more than winnability and political pedigree. It is about giving the people real choices of who will really serve them and not exploit them next,' said Casiño.###