Diokno mum on reports of Recto’s appointment as new Finance secretary

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11) — Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno is keeping silent on reports of House Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto’s appointment as his successor.

Asked to comment on Recto’s rumored appointment, Diokno said, “No comment po for now.”

Both the Palace and Recto have yet to confirm the speculations as of writing. 

Former Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos, Recto’s wife and herself a former deputy speaker, reportedly disclosed her husband is set to take his oath as Finance chief on Friday (Jan. 12) and urged the public to support him in his new role.

Groups and officials have announced their support with congratulatory messages to the country’s supposed new Finance chief.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri also gave high remarks on Recto’s appointment, calling him a “numbers genius” and praised his “ability to immediately see the big picture implications of numbers.”

“More than most, he understands how to bridge the gap between the abstractions of mathematics and the very concrete realities that we face as a nation,” Zubiri said in a statement.

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Sonny Angara also showed enthusiasm for Recto’s appointment.

Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, in a congratulatory statement, said Recto brings in a “wealth of experience in economic legislation and deep and longstanding relationships with members of Congress.”

Meanwhile, think tank Infra Watch PH also welcomed the appointment, citing Recto’s “comprehensive background in both the executive and legislative branches of government.”

“Ralph Recto’s diverse experience makes him the ideal candidate to navigate the complex economic landscape we’re currently facing,” Infrawatch PH convenor Terry Ridon said in a statement.

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) expressed their support for Recto, congratulating him on his “well-deserved designation.”

Speculations about the House deputy speaker’s appointment were fuelled when he accompanied President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in the United States in November 2023.

But Recto said he was there “representing the House.” 

Aside from being a deputy speaker, Recto has also served as the representative of the 6th district of Batangas since 2022.

He has also held the positions of Senate Minority Leader and President pro tempore during his three terms in the Senate, which ran from 2001 to 2007 and 2010 to 2022.

Recto was also a member of the Commission on Appointments and co-chaired the Joint Oversight Committee on the Proper Implementation of the National Internal Revenue Code, and the Joint Oversight Committee on the Official Development Assistance.

In 2008, Recto briefly served as the director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority.