Vilma seeks reelection as governor

BATANGAS CITY — Former Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) Tuesday, seeking the gubernatorial post she has already occupied three times since 2007.

She filed her CoC at the Commission on Elections office at the Batangas Provincial Capitol with her sons Lucky Manzano, who is running for vice governor, and Ryan Recto, who is seeking a congressional seat in the 6th District, the same position occupied by his father, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who accompanied them to the filing.

Santos-Recto, a multi-awarded actress before she entered politics, is affectionately known as the “Star for All Seasons.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY Former Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto (center) with sons Luis Manzano and Ryan Recto. PHOTO BY ROSELLE AQUINO

In 1998, she entered politics and ran for mayor of Lipa City, Batangas where she won three consecutive elections, becoming the city’s first female mayor.

In 2007, Santos-Recto was on her third and final term as mayor of Lipa and was barred from seeking another term. She then ran for governor of Batangas and proclaimed governor-elect on May 21, 2007, after garnering 475,740 votes against incumbent Arman Sanchez’s 344,969, becoming the first female governor of the province. She was reelected to her second term as governor in 2010, defeating incumbent Santo Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez. She was reelected to her third and final term as governor in 2013.

Santos-Recto then ran to be the first representative of the newly formed 6th District of Batangas, which is made up solely of the City of Lipa, and won by a landslide over her opponent, Bernadette Sabili.

She joins a four-person race for governor, that includes Vice Mayor Jay Ilagan of Mataas na Kahoy, Walter de Castro Ozaeta, a barangay captain, and former 1CARE Rep. Michael Angelo Rivera.

Luis Philippe Santos Manzano, also known by his nickname Lucky, is an actor, comedian and television host. His run for vice governor is his first foray into politics. He is running against Batangas Gov. Hermilando Mandanas.