Vilma Santos may run again as Batangas Governor

LIPA CITY, Philippines — Actress-turned politician Vilma Santos-Recto is 80 percent sure of running as governor of Batangas in next year’s mid-term election, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto revealed.

Recto, during an interview after a press conference at the “Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair” at Lima Park in Lipa City on Friday, confirmed the rumor that his wife, Vilma, will run for re-election.

“She is considering to run for governor but nothing is final yet… It is hard to say (she is really sure) but the probability is above 80 percent,” Recto said.

Speculations of the former governor running again for the province's top post started when tarpaulins of the Recto family, including children Luis Manzano and Ryan Christian Recto, were visible in all parts of Batangas.

Asked what the plans are for Luis and Ryan, the Finance chief said “nothing is definite yet” as they still have to talk about it.

There were speculations that Luis will run for vice governor while Ryan Christian will run as representative of Lipa’s lone district.

As a politician, Vilma served as Batangas governor for three consecutive terms and as mayor of Lipa also for three consecutive terms. She was also elected as Representative of the 6th District of Batangas.

She studied a crash course on public administration and local governance at the University of the Philippines when she won as the first woman mayor of Lipa, Batangas in 1998.