Vilma Santos vows to be active as Batangas congresswoman

Former Batangas Governor and actress Vilma Santos on Monday vowed to keep a good attendance record in Congress as the duly elected representative of the newly created sixth district.

The actress, who gained the name “Star for All Seasons” for her various roles on screen, attended an executive course on legislation in preparation for her Congress bid.

Santos said she would do her best to serve her constituents in the sixth district of Batangas, as well as to maintain her time with family, especially on weekends.

“’Di naman ako tatagal sa isang pagiging public servant kung meron naman akong bad record sa ganyan. Sabi ko nga basta’t wag lang matapat sa pamilya (I wouldn’t last as a public servant if I had a bad record with that. I said just as long it won’t interfere with family). Sunday is sacred to me; that’s for the family. Because whether we like it or not, I’m still a mom and a wife,” Santos said in an interview.

READ: Vilma Santos: Being a mother is most important role

The neophyte congresswoman for Lipa said she would push for legislation on the rights of women and children.

She added that she would also fight for the increase of internal revenue allotment for the local government units.

Santos, however, begged off from commenting about divorce, the reinstatement of the death penalty, and a shift to a federal system of government under the Duterte administration.

She said she would spell out her position on these only after giving more time to study these proposed measures.

“Since I am a neophyte, I want to give myself a chance to learn more. Para lang sa ganun, kapag gumawa ako ng batas, paniniwalaan ko ‘yun; at ‘pag pinaniwalaan ko, kaya kong panindigan at kaya kong i-defend (So that when I make a law, it’s something I believe in; and when I believe in it, I can stand my ground and defend it),” she said.

Santos, a member of the Liberal Party, also refused to say if she would join Duterte’s majority coalition in Congress or become a member of the minority opposition.

“I’m not in a position to answer that kung magiging majority or minority ka,” Santos said.

Santos said she would not mind continuing to star in films in her free time as Batangas congresswoman.

“Kung makaka-allow, why not (If I’m allowed, why not)? I still miss doing films,” she said. JE/rga

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