Ralph Recto, Vilma Santos join Liberal Party

MANILA - Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto and former Senator Ralph Recto are joining the Liberal Party (LP) and support the team-up of Senators Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Manuel “Mar” Roxas II in the 2010 elections.

At the convention, Roxas also announced the LP’s senatorial slate composed of Recto, former congressman Neric Acosta, former Senator Franklin Drilon, Bukidnon Representative Teofisto Guingona III, Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, detained general Danilo Lim, and former Senator Serge Osmena.

Recto informed Aquino and Roxas about his and his wife’s decision to align with the LP in a dinner with them at the Roxas residence in Cubao, Quezon City Saturday night.

"I think you have a good team in the LP under the leadership of Senator Noynoy and Senator Mar," Recto told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The decision to join the LP came after a month-long consultation with family, friends, supporters, and stakeholders in Batangas, according to Recto.

Recto earlier said he and his wife were choosing between the LP and the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar Jr to join forces with.

But after accepting the LP offer Saturday night, Recto said he called Villar, the NP standard-bearer, of their decision.

"It will never be easy for him and me as well," he said, when asked how Villar reacted to the news.

Recto called Villar as "a good friend" and wished him luck. Recto and Villar were together in the Senate’s Wednesday Group, which also included Senators Francis Pangilinan, Joker Arroyo, and Vice President Noli De Castro.

Santos-Recto will be the LP’s candidate for governor in Batangas, Quezon province Representative Lorenzo “Erin” Tanada III said in a phone interview.

Santos-Recto, a multi-awarded actress, confirmed the statement in a text message, but said the party is still finalizing the date of the oath-taking.

Tanada said the oath-taking could take place in Batangas. He added that Santos-Recto is expected to bring with her to the LP local officials of the province.

The couple ran under the administration party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrat (CMD), which has now merged with Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), in the 2007 election.

Santos-Recto won her first term as governor while Recto lost in the senatorial slate. He was appointed director general of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) but resigned in August to pursue his plans to seek a Senate seat.

The actress has been touted as one of the possible vice presidential candidates of the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD, but she repeatedly turned this down, saying she wanted to continue serving her province.

Actor and television host Edu Manzano was eventually chosen the vice presidential candidate of Lakas-Kampi.

“That’s terrible news for the administration party if it happens,” Speaker Prospero Nograles, Lakas-Kampi vice chairman, said in a text message from the United States when asked for his reaction.

Santos-Recto started her political career as Lipa City mayor before becoming Batangas governor.

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Raul V. Jallorina - Noynoy is my President

|66.214.28.xxx |2010-01-17 22:15:49

I have a vision that Noynoy Aquino will be the next President of the
Philippines. The same vision I had with his mom former President Cory Aquino. I
had a vision of seven coup at Santo Domingo Church. I had also a vision of Laban
sign in the clouds at Cordillera Street in Quezon City. I had also a vision of
Jesus Christ at Jollibee Restaurant. I pray that Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto will be
elected again this coming election. I hope and pray that my new vision will be
pushed through and my prayer will be answered by God. In the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.

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