Recto endorses Roxas, reelectionist bets in 2019 Senate race

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Ralph Recto endorsed his former colleague Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and at least two reelectionist senators for the 2019 midterm elections.

Recto invited select senatorial candidates to a “miting de avance” campaign rally Saturday, May 4, of the Bangon Lipa slate in Lipa City, Batangas. Recto’s wife, actress and former governor Vilma-Santos Recto is running for reelection as Batangas 6th district congresswoman. 

Roxas and Recto used to sit beside each other in the Senate, when they served in the 13th Congress from 2004 to 2007. Recto’s current colleagues and reelectionist senators Cynthia Villar and Juan Edgardo Angara also took the stage in the rally. Villar is from the Nacionalista Party while Angara is from the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

The Rectos were part of the Liberal Party – of which Roxas is a member – until they jumped ship to the Nacionalista Party in September 2018.

“In fact, this is political earthquake because the Nacionalista Party and Liberal Party are on the same rally,” said Roxas in a mix of English and Filipino in a chance interview with Recto during the campaign event.

Recto added that they only invited a “select few and worthy” Senate colleagues to the Lipa campaign event.

“Piling-pili naman ang mga inimbita natin, iyong mga karapat-dapat. Ang mga Batangeño magaling pumili, ano man ang kulay ng partido mo iisang bansa pa rin tayo, ang mahalaga karapat-dapat ang mailuklok natin sa Senado,” Recto said.

(We carefully selected those we invited, those who are worthy. Batangueños are good at choosing whom to vote. Whichever party the candidates come from, what’s important is, we’re one nation, and we elect to the Senate those who are worthy.) 

The “miting de avance” was ongoing as of this posting. – Michael Bueza/Rappler.com