SAN PEDRO CITY—Not only the camps of Vice President Jejomar Binay or Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte want Vilma Santos-Recto as a running mate in the 2016 presidential elections, but the Liberal Party (LP) is considering fielding her for the second highest government post, a party member and former Batangas congressman said.
This is the reason former Batangas Rep. Tomas Apacible doubted a Duterte and Santos-Recto tandem for 2016, since Santos-Recto is also being “considered” a candidate by her own party.
An actress turned politician, Santos-Recto and husband Sen. Ralph Recto joined LP in 2009. She is on her last term as governor of Batangas.
Respect
SANTOS-RECTO
Santos-Recto’s name surfaced recently after Duterte, who while not confirming his presidential bid, apparently referred to Santos-Recto as a good choice for a running mate.
Binay, who has always been open about his 2016 candidacy, also named Santos-Recto a possible choice for his Vice President as early as 2014.
The camp of Santos-Recto has not commented on any of these reports, as of yet.
In a phone interview on Thursday, Apacible said the chances of Santos-Recto running for Vice President would be slimmer should the LP decide to field a “Mar-Grace” tandem, referring to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe.
Asked if President Aquino has offered Santos-Recto to run for Vice President, Apacible said, “I don’t think there are serious talks but she is being considered, like being on a short list.”
Apacible said given that both of them, Santos-Recto and Poe, have come from the movie industry, the governor would surely have a high respect for Poe’s father, the late Fernando Poe Jr.
“I don’t think she (Santos-Recto) would go to that extent (of running against Poe). Maybe, if at all, (Santos-Recto) might run for senator and Ralph to run for governor (of Batangas),” he said.
Batangas politics
In Batangas province, sources in politics played out several scenarios, now that Santos-Recto is on her final term as governor. One is that she can run for congressman of Lipa City if the bill making it a lone congressional district is legislated before the 2016 elections.
Should this push through, incumbent Batangas Vice Gov. Jose Antonio “Marc” Leviste II, an ally of Santos-Recto, could run for governor while Ralph Recto will seek reelection in the Senate.
Leviste could not be immediately contacted on his mobile phone for comment.
Apacible said it was too early to say “how the cards will fall” for 2016 as President Aquino has yet to formally announce LP’s standard bearer and running mate.
“Those below cannot make a plan if they don’t know what will be the decision of the higher up,” he said.
Credibility and charisma
But whichever it is, Santos-Recto enjoys the support of at least her party mates should she seek a higher position.
Batangas third district Rep. Sonny Collantes called her a “winnable” candidate for a national post, having the credibility and charisma to lure voters.
Asked if she would have a chance, “of course, she is already a three-term mayor (of Lipa City) and governor. She is a good communicator and never got involved in graft,” Apacible said.
To Lipa Archbiship Ramon Arguelles, a known critic of Aquino, Santos-Recto is not only a pretty face but also “good hearted and God-fearing.”
This, however, does not mean she should be voted for these reasons alone. “I am (still) advocating for system change when we no longer vote for drug lords or movie stars,” he said.