Vilma already sure to run, prefers to be Batangas gov

Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos is definitely running in the May 14 elections, preferably for governor, she told GMA's 24 Oras Monday evening. Santos' statement came after hundreds of her supporters gathered outside Lipa city hall Monday morning to urge her to run. "I’ve decided already to run. At this point in time, I just need confirmation and I don’t want to decide when I am too emotional," Santos told 24 Oras. She did not explain what "confirmation" she was waiting for. Asked what position would she prefer to run for, Santos told 24 Oras she prefers to run for governor. “Palagay ko po, personally, siguro po’y gobernador, kasi that is administrative( Personally, I think I prefer to run for governor, because it is administrative (in nature)." Santos said a position in Congress would require her to learn legislative work, while work in the capitol is not much different from what she was doing as mayor of Lipa City. “Kumbaga yung pagiging administrator ko pinalaki lamang kung saka-sakaling ako’y tatakbong gobernador. Pero ang legislation ay pag-aaral pa po yan at di po basta-basta yan. So I think mas magiging epektibo po ako sa ngayon kung magiging administratibo po (ang aking posisyon) at let’s say run for governor," she said. On February 24, Santos backed out from her gubernatorial bid to give way to the candidacy of her brother-in-law, Richard "Ricky" Recto, the province's outgoing vice governor. Carmen Recto, Santos' mother-in-law said the decision was made after the family settled their "political differences." Asked if she ever considered running for Congress, Santos said: Hindi po, three choices na po ako ever since. Yung three choices, alam na po yun ng mga Batangueños ," Santos said. “In fact, I told them I might run for governor, maybe congresswoman or I may not run also," she said. She told 24 Oras that “at the time na ako’y nilapitan ng aking brother-in-law to ask (me) to back out, I did not commit. Dahil ako po’y nahilingan ng mga tao, I cannot commit." Santos' supporters gathered outside the the Lipa city hall Monday morning, waving placards and posters supporting her gubernatorial bid. Among those who attended the gathering were Rep. Eileen Ermita, executive secretary Eduardo Ermita's daughter, and former justice secretary Hernando Perez. Santos said she had been under pressure from supporters to run for governor. She said this was why she shied away from media in the last three weeks. "I am a wife, I am a mother, I am the mayor of Lipa and I am also an actress," she said. The actress-turned-mayor thanked her supporters for the support, but also asked them to be patient. Santos said she was saddened when she heard reports labeling members of the Recto family "power-hungry." Former justice secretary Hernando Perez on Monday appealed to Ricky Recto to allow Santos to run for governor. Perez said he hopes Recto and the other candidates planning to run for governor would acknowledge the growing demand for Santos to run. He said that aside from residents and local politicians, some members of the Catholic church are also endorsing Santos’ candidacy. Perez said Santos is a “sure winner". Perez, who ran for governor in 2004 as Recto's running mate, said it would be difficult to refuse the overwhelming support of people for Santos to run for governor. “Sana si Mayor Vi, madadala ng kahilingan buhat sa iba’t ibang sulok ng lalawigan na tumakbong gobernador," Perez said. - GMANews.TV