Finance Chief Ralph Recto To Take Oath as New Executive Secretary Today
RALPH RECTO – The Finance Secretary was appointed as the new Executive Secretary of President Bongbong Marcos.
Countless Filipinos called for Zaldy Co to return to the Philippines amid the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the government. He is one of the government officials who are accused of allegedly receiving kickback from the flood control projects.
However, the then-Ako Bicol Partylist Representative was already out of the country when he was implicated in the corruption issue. House Speaker Bojie Dy revoked his Travel Clearance and ordered him to return to the country but he did not heed the call.
Recently, through a series of videos posted on social media, Zaldy Co accused Pres. Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of allegedly inserting P100 billion in the 2025 budget. According to the then-House member, he allegedly confirmed the order with several members of the Marcos Jr. Cabinet.
Zaldy Co claimed that he allegedly confirmed the supposed P100-billion budget insertion order to then-Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. He also claimed that he called then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. According to him, both of them allegedly confirmed the multi-billion budget insertion.
Following the claims of Zaldy Co, Lucas Bersamin and Amenah Pangandaman reportedly resigned from their positions. The Palace claimed that it was allegedly out of delicadeza. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the newly-appointed Executive Sec. is Ralph Recto, the Finance chief.
Sec. Ralph Recto confirmed during a budget plenary deliberation in the Senate that he will take his oath as the new Executive Secretary of Pres. Bongbong Marcos today. Based on the report, he claimed that he is committed to improving the governance in the country and he believes that the Marcos Jr. administration is stable despite the issues.
“Political noise lang lahat ‘yan. As far as we’re concerned, we will improve governance. Pabibilisin natin yung takbo ng gobyerno,” Recto said on the issues.
According to Sec. Ralph Recto, he would push for the betterment of the health services of the government as well as the quality of education in the country. He wants to speed up the construction of school buildings and hiring of teachers.
“Mas mapaganda ang health services ng ating pamahalaan. Pagdating sa edukasyon yung mas kalidad na edukasyon, pabilisin yung construction ng school buildings, yung pagha-hire ng mga teacher, training ng teacher, yan ang gagawin natin, yan ang pabibilisin natin,” the Finance Secretary said.
Based on the report, Sec. Ralph Recto agrees with Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson who claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is allegedly unaware of the P100 billion budget insertion accused of him. According to Recto, the President is too kind.
“Masyadong mabait ang Pangulo, focused din sa trabaho sa totoo lang,” he said.
Previously, Sen. Ping Lacson confirmed the claim of Zaldy Co that P100 billion was inserted to the 2025 national budget but he cleared Marcos Jr.