‘Time for ordinary people in Senate’

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc is fielding 11 candidates or an almost complete slate for next year’s Senate elections.

Unlike in previous elections when they opted to coalesce with traditional parties to push for their candidates, the militant bloc this time will “try another route” to secure a Senate seat, said former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño.

“We thought, ‘let’s just form our own slate and establish our own brand of politics,’” Casiño said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News.

“The time is right for an alternative kind of politics — a politics of ideologies and principles,” he added.

Their main message, Casiño said, is that it’s time to put ordinary people in the Senate.

“It’s time for ordinary people and their interests to have a voice in the Senate… We hope to translate that into clear, actual platforms,” which he said would gain the people’s support.

“By fielding 11 and presenting ourselves as the alternative to the traditional kinds of politics in a serious way, by fielding an almost full slate, we hope that we will have a bigger impact,” he added.

Joining Casiño in the Makabayan slate for the Senate are ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, former Gabriela representative Liza Maza, nurse Jocelyn Andamo of the Filipino Nurses United, transport leader Mody Floranda of PISTON, and urban poor leader Mimi Doringo of Kadamay.

Also part of the Makabayan slate are labor leader Jerome Adonis of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Pamalakaya vice chairperson Ronnel Arambulo, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas chairman Danilo Ramos, and Moro leader Amirah Lidasan.

“What we did consciously is to choose candidates that came from the grassroots. This is to show that our options are not limited to political dynasties,” Casiño said in English and Filipino.

“We hope that by making this contrast… we hope that we will capture the imagination of our voters,” he added.

Casiño, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2013, recognized the difficulty of fielding a full Senate slate. But he noted that this could help them energize their base.

“It’s easier to cover the entire country through our grassroots campaign… We will