Veteran showbiz personality and House Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto on Thursday, October 7, announced that she will not be running for any position in the 2022 national elections.
The outgoing Batangas 6th District representative made the announcement through her social media accounts in Facebook and Instagram.
"After careful consideration of the present situation, especially the limitations in conducting a campaign during a pandemic, I have decided not to seek any elective post in the May 2022 elections," Santos-Recto wrote.
"Pero hindi nangangahulugan na titigil na ako sa pagseserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Nandito pa rin ako para maglingkod sa inyo (But that doesn't mean that I will stop serving my countrymen. I'm still here to serve you all). I have been serving the public for more than 23 years and will continue to serve, in the best way I can, even in my private capacity."
"Tuloy pa rin ang trabaho at serbisyo! Sa lahat ng nagtiwala at patuloy na sumusuporta sa akin, maraming maraming salamat po. Pagpalain nawa tayo ng Poong Maykapal (My work and service will continue! To all who trusted and supported me, thank you so much. May Almighty God bless us all!)," added Santos-Recto.
Santos-Recto was previously reported as considering running for senator in the 2022 polls, while her husband, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto will seek a seat in the House of Representatives.
The award-winning actress, who is serving her second term as Batangas representative, joined politics in 1998 when she became the first female mayor of Lipa City, and served for three terms.
Santos-Recto, known as the "Star for All Seasons", also made history when she became the first woman governor of Batangas Province in 2007. (Melvin Sarangay)