Sen. Ralph Recto

 

Sen. Ralph Recto

Will he toe party line?

MANILA, Philippines – The Arroyo Cabinet member-turned-Aquino ally is not as critical of Corona and the Supreme Court as his fellow Liberal Party members. The economist has even opposed government’s defiance of the court. It remains to be seen if Recto will vote along party lines in Corona’s impeachment trial.

Recto believes the political instability resulting from Corona’s impeachment trial may drive away investors.

He told the Philippine Star, “Who will commit resources in this country [in 2012] if they know there is instability of some sort, political [instability]? The executive and the Supreme Court are clashing. This is not good.”

In 2007, Recto ran for senator under Arroyo’s Team Unity coalition. He lost the polls, with analysts attributing his defeat to his authorship of the Expanded Value Added Tax (EVAT) law.  Before running for the Senate, Recto was a three-term congressman, representing the fourth district of Batangas.

Age: 48

Education:

Masters in Strategic Business Economics, University of Asia and the Pacific

Masters in Public Administration, University of the Philippines

BS Commerce, Major in Business Administration, De La Salle University

Profession:

Current term: 2010 to 2016

Eligible for reelection? Yes, in 2016. While, strictly speaking, this is Recto’s second term at the Senate, there is a 3-year gap between his first term (2001 to 2007) and his current term (2010 to 2016). He ran for reelection in 2007 but lost. His successful bid in 2010 begins a new 2-term cycle.  

Political Party: Liberal Party (LP)

Recto joined the LP senatorial ticket for the 2010 elections. He became a member of the LP after he and wife, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, bolted the Lakas party of then President Arroyo. The Recto couple was among many Arroyo allies who shifted to the LP during the 2010 campaign.

Recto decided to support then Sen. Benigno Aquino III in 2010 even if he is a close friend of another presidential candidate, Sen. Manny Villar.

Senate bloc:

Recto belongs to the LP bloc, which also includes Senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Teofisto Guingona III. In his first term at the Senate, Recto was part of the so-called Wednesday group composed of Senators Villar, Joker Arroyo, Pangilinan and former Vice President Noli de Castro.

Position aired and published on Corona or the articles of impeachment

On alleged midnight appointment as chief justice (Article 1)

As a senatorial candidate in March 2010, Recto called on Arroyo “to forfeit her right of appointing a new Chief Justice.” He said allowing her successor to make the appointment will be a classy act of saying goodbye.

“That way she will score a double victory: legally, in the bench, and morally, in the bar of public opinion. There is no gesture more noble than in refusing to exercise a power that is yours,” said Recto.

Recto warned of anarchy resulting from a constitutional crisis after the Justice Department defied the TRO.

He told ABS-CBN and Interaksyon, “Niyurakan nila ang batas. Gulo iyan. Nananawagan ako, sundin natin ang batas.” (They trampled on the law. That means disorder. I call on the government to follow the law.) – Ayee Macaraig/Rappler.com

Sources: Senate website, Website of Sen. Recto, press statements of Sen. Recto, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, GMA News, ABS-CBN News, Interaksyon