Veteran actress-turned-politician Vilma Santos-Recto has made a strong political comeback, officially winning the Batangas gubernatorial race in the 2025 midterm elections.
Santos-Recto was proclaimed the new governor of Batangas on Tuesday after garnering over 640,000 votes, defeating rivals Mike Rivera (LP), Jay Ilagan (Promdi), and Walter Ozaeta (independent).
According to a GMA report by Darlene Cay, Santos-Recto did not attend the proclamation ceremony, choosing instead to rest, as relayed by her husband, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.
A seasoned public servant, Santos-Recto previously served as governor from 2007 to 2016, and has also held positions as Lipa City mayor and Batangas congresswoman.
In other Batangas races, Dodo Mandanas won the vice gubernatorial seat, beating her son Luis Manzano and Ryanh Dolor. Her youngest son, Ryan Christian Recto, won the congressional seat for the sixth district. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Jinky Bitrics Luistro retained her post in the second district.