BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – It’s reelection for Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto and a congressional bid for the province’s second district for fellow actor-politician Christopher “Boyet” de Leon.
Santos-Recto filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) yesterday at the Commission on Elections’ provincial office, accompanied by her husband Sen. Ralph Recto, vice gubernatorial candidate Mark Leviste, Regal Films producer Mother Lily Monteverde, and all her board members belonging to the Liberal Party (LP).
De Leon, meanwhile, was accompanied by his wife, actress Sandy Andolong.
Three independent candidates will run against Santos-Recto, namely Marcos Mandanas, Arturo Atienza, and Praxedes Bustamante.
Mandanas ran against Santos-Recto in 2010 gubernatorial race but lost, while Atienza ran for governor in 2001 and 2004. Atienza ran for senator in 2007 and for president in 2010 but was disqualified by the Comelec.
Before proceeding to the Comelec office, Santos-Recto’s group attended a thanksgiving Mass officiated by Fr. Johanes Arada and Fr. Dakila Ramos at the provincial auditorium.
The LP candidates, all wearing yellow t-shirts, together with Santos-Recto, had copies of their COCs blessed with holy water before filing these at the Comelec office.
“We need divine intervention for all our candidates…,” Santos-Recto said.