Teddy Casiño courts BOPK, Team Rama

CEBU, Philippines - Independent senatorial candidate Teodoro "Teddy" Casiño is courting both Team Rama and the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

"Both of them are my friends," Casiño said, referring to reelectionist Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and rival south district Representative Tomas Osmeña.

Rama is under the United Nationalist Coalition while Osmeña is under the Liberal Party.

"Baka naman may puwang pa ako. Any help will do. I just do not know what kind of help he (Osmeña) can extend but humihingi ako ng tulong," Casiño said in a press conference.

Cebu has 2.5 million registered voters.

Casiño said he has support from Makabayan, a coalition of partylists Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Gabriela, Kabataan, ACT-Teachers, Katribu, Migrante and Courage.

The coalition has up to nine million votes in the 2010 elections, he added.

Aside from Casiño, the coalition is also endorsing the candidacies of Senators Chiz Escudero, Aquilino Pimentel, Loren Legarda as well as Grace Poe and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar.

Villar thanked the 'White Vote Movement' after its spokesperson, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde, announced the Catholic lay groups' support to her candidacy and five other senatoriables.

"I am thankful for the trust and support of all the members of the White Vote Movement," said Villar.

The White Vote Movement is the grassroot campaign recently launched by Catholic lay organizations, including the charismatic movement El Shaddai Movement, which extolled of 6 million members nationwide.

"I welcome every support, whether big or small. Every vote counts," stressed Villar who is running for senator under the Nacionalista Party-Team PNoy.  (FREEMAN)