Vilma Santos secures Batangas gov seat; son Luis losing vice gov race

Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto. Photo from Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Vilma Santos-Recto is set to once again win as governor of Batangas, based on the partial results of the 2025 elections. Santos served as the province’s governor for three consecutive terms from 2007 to 2016.

According to the Commission on Elections’ 1:08 a.m. of Tuesday tally, Santos garnered 604,826 votes with 80 percent of the election returns from Batangas province already submitted.

READ: 2025 Philippine Election Results: Partial and Unofficial Tally

Santos’ closest rivals, Mike Rivera only had 490,611 while Jay Ilagan had 50,606 votes.

Meanwhile, Santos’ son Luis Manzano, who is running for vice governor lags behind Dodo Mandanas with only 522,291 votes versus his rival’s 759,283 votes. /cb