BATANGAS CITY – Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto on Wednesday said she will seek re-election along with vice-governor Jose Antonio “Mark” Leviste II in the coming 2010 local elections, dousing rumors that she would be fielded as the administration party's vice-presidential candidate.“Our tandem is final. Mark will be my vice-governor. We want to be given another chance to serve Batangas," Santos-Recto told reporters.
Leviste was the running mate of former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez in 2007. There are reports that Sanchez is gearing for the governorship again and will run in tandem with Santos-Recto’s former running mate, Edwin Ermita.
Santos-Recto, a Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats party member, said it was Leviste’s leadership that made it possible for her to gain the support of the provincial board, which paved the way for more projects in the province.
“Kapag iisa ang vision mo with your vice-governor, mas madali ang pag-dedeliver ng services sa iyong mga constituents,” she added.
The Batangas governor, who is also a multi-awarded actress, said she will not run as vice-president after reportedly being wooed to be the running mate of presidential candidates Sen. Manny Villar and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr.
“My focus is in Batangas. My mind has been set to continue serving my kababayans. I know how to handle the problems in Batangas and definitely I know how to solve it,” Santos-Recto said.
“Ayaw ko namang maging vice president dahil lang sa pangalan ko, dahil sa sikat ako. Gusto ko naman pag sasabak ako sa isang giyera nakahanda ako at maraming nalalaman,” she said.
[I don't want to be vice-president because of my name, because I'm famous. If I'm going into war, I want to be prepared and know a lot.]
Leviste, for his part, said he was honored to be chosen as the governor's running mate.
Joining Noynoy’s party?
The governor, meanwhile, said politicians are now on a “wait-and-see” situation regarding possible defections from Lakas-Kampi-CMD to the Liberal Party of Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.
Santos-Recto did not discount the possibility that she would join the Liberal Party but noted that transferring to another political party would not be easy.
“Malaking usapin yan. Hindi ganon kadali pero kung ano man ang sentiments ng nakakarami at naiintidihan ko kung ano ang kanilang rason, definitely doon ako,” she explained
[That is a big deal. It's not that easy but whatever the sentiments of the majority and if I understand their reasons for it, that's where I will go.]
A November 2-3 local survey commissioned by Leviste earlier showed Aquino leading other presidential contenders among Batangas voters.
Of the 1,800 respondents surveyed, 47 percent said they would vote for Aquino, 13 percent chose Villar, another 13 percent chose Sen. Francis Escudero, eight percent chose former president Joseph Estrada, two percent chose Teodoro and 17 percent were undecided.
Santos-Recto first entered politics in 1998 by running and winning the mayoral seat of Lipa City, Batangas. She won by landslide victories in three consecutive elections.
After serving Lipa City for 9 years, Santos-Recto toppled Sanchez in the 2007 gubernatorial elections in Batangas.
as of 11/11/2009 12:23 PM
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/11/09/its-final-ate-vi-wont-run-vp
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