Vilma Santos-Recto negates running anew as congresswoman of lone district of Lipa

If ever a special election is held at the 6th District of the Province of Batangas, will Star for All Seasons Vilma Santos-Recto join the electoral process?

After ex-congressman of the district Ralph Recto was appointed Secretary of Finance (DoF) by the administration of President Bongbong Marcos when Benjamin Diokno bowed out from the cabinet office, the post was declared vacant with Speaker Martin Romualdez as the temporary care taker of its constituency.

Who will finally replace Ralph?

Will it be Recto’s wife Vilma who is attuned to lawmaking and public service to return and assume the same office formerly occupied by her husband.

“Nope. I am not the replacement. It will be decided by the Congress,” answered Ate (a term of endearment to an older woman by blood or affinity) when sought of her comments about replacement of Ralph.

The legality, in reality, is that the House of Representatives by virtue of its power to recommend or order the Commission on Election (Comelec) to hold a special election in order the vacancy issue.

Is Vi bent on filing a certificate of candidacy (CoC) when Comelec calls for a special poll to fill up the void left by Ralph?

“No na po muna (Still ‘No’ for the moment,” replied Santos-Recto when asked if she will run for the post she used to hold for three consecutive years.

If not her, who will bite the bullet?

According to newspaperman Ismael Amigo, if Vi won’t run, it is his hunch that it would be Luis Manzano (Vilma’s son by actor Edu Manzano) or Ryan Christian Recto (the actress’ son by Ralph) to test the political waters.

Tomorrow, January 23, 2024, Congress resumes its sessions and the so-called clamor to hold a special election will be tackled by the Lower House.