Ralph Recto, Vilma Santos latest LP recruits

The exodus of prominent political personalities to the Liberal Party continued Monday with former administration allies - Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto and wife, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos - becoming the party's latest recruits. In a radio interview, party spokesman Rep. Erin Tañada said the Recto couple will take their respective oaths in Batangas province, although no date was announced. "Nakailang araw na nakipagusap ang party leadership kay Sen. Recto. Kagabi kinonfirm ni Sen. Ralph, akala namin confidential pa (The party leadership had been in talks with former Senator Recto, and he confirmed he was moving to the LP as early as Sunday night)," Tañada told radio dzBB. At the LP's national directorate meeting in Quezon City where Senators Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and Mar Roxas II were to be formally proclaimed as the party's standard bearers in the 2010 elections, LP vice president for plans and programs Francisco Abad confirmed that Ralph and Vilma have shifted political allegiance. Until the LP announcement, Recto was reportedly being considered by the Nacionalista Party of Senator Manuel Villar as one of its senatorial candidates. For her part, Santos was among those considered for vice president of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party before it finally decided on Santos' fellow movie star and former husband Edu Manzano. Recto joins former Senate President Franklin Drilon, Representatives Ruzzano Rufino Biazon, Teofisto Guingona III, Nereus Acosta and Riza Hontiveros, former Senator Sergio Osmeña III, detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim and Sonia Roco in the LP senatorial line-up. Santos will seek reelection under the Liberal Party, Tañada said. He said the defection of the Recto couple will solidify Aquino's hold on Southern Luzon. "It solidifies ang hawak ni Sen. Noynoy sa Southern Tagalog. Ang Southern Tagalog ang nagbigay ng mataas na survey results (It solidifies Aquino's hold on Southern Tagalog, which is a big source of his lead in recent surveys)," Tañada said. Other big names from Southern Luzon who have joined the Liberal Party include Cavite Governor Erineo Maliksi and former Laguna Governor Joey Lina. Earlier, Ramon Casiple, head of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform, said that administration members did not want to be associated with an unpopular president and an administration bet that is lagging behind in ratings for most preferred presidential aspirants. “Si Gibo (Gilberto Teodoro) di tumataas ang ratings. Kaya ang mga taga-Lakas-Kampi, hahanap ng oposisyon. Si Gloria mismo, ayaw ma-identify sa kaniya. Kaya walang gustong tumkabo (sa ilalim ng Lakas) kahit sa ground level. Walang value (na) added kay Gibo," Casiple said in a phone interview with GMANews.TV on November 8. - GMANews.TV