Wife may take place of Sanchez in gubernatorial race — Villar

The Nacionalista Party has yet to decide on who it will field to officially replace the late former Batangas governor Armando Sanchez in the gubernatorial race, as the party still grieves over the loss of its candidate. But in a press statement issued Wednesday, NP standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. said Sanchez’s wife, Sto. Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez, could be tapped for the post. "Sigurado naman na may papalit kay Arman, malamang si Edna ang papalit, ang kanyang asawang mayor na very qualified at competent. Handang-handa sya para pumalit. Bagamat ngayon ay hindi muna dapat pag-usapan. Ito ay dapat pag-usapan pagkalibing na," Villar said.

The NP can field another candidate in place of Sanchez and has until noon of May 10 to announce the party's new candidate for governor. "Sa darating na panahon ay pag-uusapan kung papaano ang gagawin, kung sino ang papalit kay Arman. Sa ngayon ay mahalaga na makiramay tayong lahat. Kami ng lahat ay nakikiramay sa mga taga-Batangas. Si Gov. Sanchez ay nanungkulan nang maayos sa lalawigan ng Batangas," Villar said. Villar learned of Sanchez’s demise while campaigning in Zamboanga. During the Rockatropa concert rally, he asked the audience to pause and offer a minute of prayer for Sanchez. Sanchez was rushed to the Mary Medtiarix Medical Center in Lipa City Monday afternoon after collapsing during a campaign sortie there. He passed away at around 7:20pm on Tuesday. Villar, together with other NP candidates, were expected to go to Batangas later in the day. — Amita Legaspi/RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV