Vilma Santos files gubernatorial bid
Southern Luzon Bureau
Marlon RamosBATANGAS CITY -- Lipa Mayor Vilma Santos-Recto officially filed on Wednesday her certificate of candidacy for governor of Batangas province while her brother-in-law and erstwhile rival, incumbent Vice Governor Ricky Recto, filed his candidacy for congressman in the province's 4th district, in the northern part of Batangas.
They were accompanied by Santos' husband reelectionist Senator Ralph Recto and Santos' runningmate Edwin Ermita.
They arrived at the Batangas capitol at around 11:30 a.m.
Santos, together with her mother, attended a mass held at the Lipa City Hall grounds at about 8:30 a.m.
They then rode on a bus together with other local politicians as they trooped to the provincial election office here.
To dramatize his support for his sister-in-law, Ricky tore his certificate of candidacy for governor, which he had intended to file.
"My prayers are answered. I am speechless. I feel very light emotionally and mentally," Santos-Recto said.
After being put in the center of controversy, Santos and her brother-in-law kissed and made up literally.
Ricky Recto kissed Santos on the lips at least three times and they hugged each other in front of Ralph, who said that he was also happy that the issue in his family had been settled.
Ricky said, "This is not about our family. This is about the good of the province -- the battle between evil and good, the good and evil, and the battle for right and wrong."
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TALLIES
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 1,530,337 |
|---|---|
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 1,445,355 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 1,427,372 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 1,315,961 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 1,270,851 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 1,267,929 |
| Cayetano, Alan Peter (GO) | 1,097,065 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 1,046,152 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 999,396 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 980,643 |
| Recto, Ralph (TU) | 971,250 |
| Zubiri, Juan Miguel (TU) | 957,930 |
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 14,161,803 |
|---|---|
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 13,919,444 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 12,027,067 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 11,674,064 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 11,107,999 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 11,092,665 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 9,689,358 |
| Cayetano, Alan Peter (GO) | 9,030,748 |
| Honasan, Gregorio (IND) | 9,013,231 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 8,977,075 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 8,710,648 |
| Pimentel, Aquilino III (GO) | 8,449,279 |
| Legarda, Loren (GO) | 18,352,290 |
|---|---|
| Escudero, Francis Joseph (GO) | 18,095,757 |
| Lacson, Panfilo (GO) | 15,442,480 |
| Villar, Manuel Jr (GO) | 15,192,880 |
| Pangilinan, Francis (IND) | 14,415,704 |
| Aquino, Benigno Simeon III (GO) | 14,234,979 |
| Angara, Edgardo (TU) | 12,404,138 |
| Cayetano, Allan Peter (GO) | 11,736,410 |
| Arroyo, Joker (TU) | 11,550,655 |
| Honasan, Gregorio (IND) | 11,487,784 |
| Trillanes, Antonio IV (GO) | 11,138,067 |
| Pimentel, Aquilino III (GO) | 10,865,397 |
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