Showbiz power fades in polls

The luster seems to have all but faded as show biz stars, with the exception of Vilma Santos, will head for the loser’s exit.

Among those destined to lick their wounds amid the klieg lights are actors Richard Gomez and Cesar Montano, comedian Anjo Yllana and retired jukebox artist Victor Wood.

Gomez said the poor showing of movie and television personalities in these elections could be due to the “non-performing stars” who held or are currently holding public office.

“I think that has a big effect (on us). It became a stigma,” he said, but did not name names.

Santos, who is leading the gubernatorial race in the province of Batangas over the incumbent Arman Sanchez, already smells victory but declined to issue a victory statement yesterday until the official results are in.

“It’s still early to claim victory, but based on the monitoring of the PNP that shows I’m leading, all I can say is thank you for all the trust and confidence given to me by my kababayans,” she told The STAR in a mobile phone interview.

Santos, also known as the star for all seasons, leads her nearest rival by some 140,000 votes, according to figures from the Batangas Police Provincial Office election monitoring center.

She is the outgoing Lipa City mayor and wife of re-electionist Sen. Ralph Recto.

However, it won’t be a Boyet-Vilma tandem in the provincial governor’s hall as the actress’ co-star in many a Filipino melodrama, Christopher de Leon, was running a poor third in the vice governor race. Santos’ running mate Edwin Ermita leads with 51,034 votes, followed by Jose Antonio Leviste with 41,672 and De Leon with 23,539, PNP monitoring results said.

Gomez, who ran as an independent in the Senate race, said yesterday he was brave enough to accept that he would not win this fight.

Gomez said that while it was unfair to his supporters to concede defeat this early, it was best to be realistic.

“In every competition there are losers and winners,” he said.

Gomez, 41, said he would wait until the counting was finished before making an official statement.

“In fairness to those who voted for me, I will wait. (But) I can see the unfavorable trend,” he said, adding he treats elections like a sports competition.

In Parañanque City, incumbent Vice Mayor Anjo Yllana will just to have to vacate city hall premises as he trails opposition candidate City Councilor Gustavo Tambunting, 84,215 to 66,161 votes.

Others likely to wind up in the losing end of the polls are award-winning actor-director Montano and singer Wood in the senatorial race. —Aurea Calica, Arnell Ozaeta, Rhodina Villanueva

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