Former Batangas governor scores Ralph, Ate Vi

Sto. Tomas, Batangas , Philippines  – Former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez challenged yesterday incumbent Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and husband, former Sen. Ralph Recto, to surrender Ricky Recto who is facing arrest charges for murder and attempted murder.

Sanchez said ex-Sen. Recto should encourage his brother to face the law in connection with the criminal charges the former governor filed against him in connection with the ambush attempt on his (Sanchez) life in 2006.

“Ang tingin ko maapektuhan sila sa pagtatago ni Ricky siempre election na eh. Magkakatapunan ng mga batikos. Kahit nasa Mindanao ka makakabasa ng balita na nagtatago, sasabihin ng tao, kapatid na yun nung nagtatago? Nung namatay?,” said Sanchez in an interview before the mass oathtaking of 200 grassroots leaders here.

Sanchez is fighting Santos in her re-election gubernatorial bid. He said that he, too, is ready to parry criticisms over his alleged involvement in jueteng activities in the past.

Sanchez said the government has legalized the numbers game through small town lottery (STL), and he prefers to support STL rather than go back to illegal jueteng operations.

Mastermind

Sanchez survived an assassination attempt on June 1, 2006 when a bomb planted on the Hummer H2 he was riding exploded, which led to the killing of his driver and bodyguard. Charges were filed against Ricky, who was tagged as the mastermind of the killings.

The former governor said he has been with the NP for about a year and after noting that the administration Lakas-Kam­pi coalition has been facing defections.

He said he joined the NP with the political backing of the Zamora brothers of San Juan who are also supporting Villar’s presidential bid.

“Lately, tinawag nila ako dahil sasama nga si Sen. Ralph, sabi ko kay Sen. Villar walang problema yun kung ang ating hangarin ay ang panalo ninyo bilang Pangulo. Kung sa tingin ninyo yan ay makakatulong sa pagkapanalo, it’s all welcome. Ang importante ay manalo ang aming ulo, kami naman ay galamay lang,” Sanchez told reporters here.

Sanchez said he was encouraged by incumbent and former mayors and supporters in the province to run again for governor. He said, that he is seeking another try for governorship after getting the nod of his wife, Sto. Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez.

Welcome

Moreover, in a bid to strengthen its influence in Luzon, the Nacionalista Party led by its standard bearer Villar Jr. welcomed yesterday to the party former Batangas governor Sanchez to be pitted against incumbent Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto.

Villar presented to Batangueños his platform to uplift the lives of the poor, improve health and education.

Villar recalled that his 86-year-old mother, Nanay Curing, has also made a good person out of him and his siblings who all had to endure hardships and poverty in the early part of their lives. His mother raised him and his siblings by being a market vendor in Moriones, Tondo, at one time having to experience the death of their youngest sibling because of lack of money to proper medical treatment.

During the oath-taking, Villar was accompanied by lawyer Adel Tamano, Gilbert Remulla, Rep. Timmy Chipeco, Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand “Bong-bong” Marcos Jr. and Joseph Martin Querubin, who is representing his detained father, Col. Ariel Querubin. Tamano, Marcos, and Querubin are included in the NP’s senatorial slate.

Sanchez also announced support for Sen. Loren Legarda’s vice presidential bid.

He called on his supporters to support the bid of the Villar-Legarda tandem. The former governor believes that 96 percent of the barangay captains in the province will support the NP candidates in the 2010 elections.        – With Arnell Ozaeta