Mayor Vi gives way to brod-in-law in Batangas gubernatorial race

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga – Re-electionist Sen. Ralph Recto said yesterday he and his wife, Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos, have agreed that she will give way to his brother, Batangas Vice Gov. Ricky Recto, in the gubernatorial race.

In an interview with newsmen in Lingayen, Pangasinan where he and other senatorial bets of Team Unity held a motorcade and rally yesterday, Recto said "if he (Ricky) really wants to run for governor, then Vilma will back out from the race."

However, Recto added, "I am sure he will lose."

Recto’s mother, Carmen, a native of Pangasinan, also confirmed that Vilma has decided to forgo her own bid for the top post in Batangas province in favor of Ricky, who will challenge incumbent Gov. Armand Sanchez.

Recto did not say whether Vilma, who is on her third and last term as mayor, still has other political alternatives.

In an earlier interview with The STAR, Recto urged his brother to run for Congress, where he would have a chance of winning. He also said that "the people (in Batangas) do not like my brother."

Members of the Recto family apparently settled their differences on the issue only yesterday.

The other day, Recto was still insisting that his wife would run and, should she win as governor, will stamp out jueteng, an illegal numbers game that continues to be linked to Sanchez.

Despite Recto’s pronouncements, Vilma had declared that she was willing to forgo her gubernatorial bid to preserve harmony in the Recto family.