Re-electionist candidate Vilma Santos-Recto has resumed her campaign activities after Edna Sanchez, wife of deceased candidate Armando Sanchez, declared to oppose her in the gubernatorial race in Batangas.

“Binigay ko ‘yong aking pakikiramay, kung ganito rin ang pagtapat nila sa’kin na gusto pa rin nilang ituloy ang laban, gagawin ko na uli ‘yong aking dapat gawin bilang pag-ikot ko uli sa mga naghihintay din naman sa’kin,” the incumbent governor said in a “TV Patrol World” interview.

While she said she respects Mrs. Sanchez’s decision to replace her husband, the actress-politician is dismayed about the possibility that the situation will be used for “power.”

“Hindi ganun kadali ‘yong sitwasyon na ganito na pupuwede kang magamit e. I mean for power and money. ‘Yon lang siguro ‘yong hindi ko ma-take, just for power. Anyway at the last minute nito, nasa tao ang desisyon,” she related.

Sanchez made her emotional announcement to take over her husband last Friday, April 30.

“Alang-alang sa asawa ko…nakita ko gusto niyang ibalik ang dangal ng Batangas… Laban ito ng husband ko. Pero nandito na ako, laban ko na rin ito,” she said in a press conference.

However, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has yet to arrive at a final decision if she will be allowed to run.

Albeit Santos-Recto wants to personally visit the wake of her former rival, who died of multi-pulmonary arrest and secondary cerebral hemorrhage last April 27, she has misgivings about what her appearance there might bring.

“With all sincerity, gusto ko, pero hindi natin alam ang sitwasyon especially ngayon. Maaaring ako’y tanggapin nang mabuti, pero baka may mga magsalita nang hindi maganda, at hindi rin pumayag ang mga tao ko, maging hindi pa maganda ang resulta,” she said.