Ocampo, Casiño, Maza vying for Senate seats in 2010

MANILA, Philippines - Militant members of the House of Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño and Liza Maza have filed a petition with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking accreditation of their political parties.

The move is in preparation for their joining the Senate race in 2010. Ocampo and Casiño belong to Bayan Muna while Maza comes from women’s group Gabriela.

“We cannot be stopped from our objective of expanding the participation of ordinary citizens in the different levels of government like the Senate and local government,” Ocampo said in Filipino.

The two groups are eyeing to join the lineup of any possible presidential candidate from the opposition camp.

Maza said they believe it is already time to elevate their representation of the marginalized sectors from the party-lists to the Senate.

Aside from Bayan Muna and Gabriela, the militant coalition will also comprise people’s organizations like the Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Migrante International, Anakpawis, Kabataan and the Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees or COURAGE. – Sheila Crisostomo