Recto expected to get Commission on Appointments approval

MANILA, Philippines — Finance Secretary Ralph Recto in all likelihood will breeze through his confirmation process on Wednesday, having been a former senator who used to be a member of the Commission on Appointments.

Rep. Johnny Pimentel, an assistant minority leader who belongs to the 12-member House contingent of the CA, said the bicameral body has scheduled the confirmation hearing on Recto’s appointment as head of the Department of Finance on March 13.

The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House and the Senate, with the Senate President as ex officio presiding officer.

The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to scrutinize the competence, fitness and integrity of Cabinet secretaries and other key presidential appointees, and to approve or reject them.

“It will likely be a breeze for Secretary Recto. We expect him to be accorded the courtesy of a swift confirmation, considering that he used to be a member of both the House of Representatives and the Senate,” said Pimentel, who represents the second district of Surigao del Sur.

Pimentel predicted a “smooth sailing” for Recto’s confirmation as the CA committee on finance headed by Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. will hold its confirmation hearing on Recto’s ad-interim appointment.

Recto, 60, previously served as Batangas sixth district representative for nine years and as a member of the Senate for 18 years. Prior to his stint at the finance department, he was one of the House deputy speakers under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

He was supposed to serve another three-year term up to 2025, but cut it short when he was appointed by President Marcos to head the Department of Finance on Jan. 12. He replaced Benjamin Diokno, who has since moved back to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas as one of the six members of the Monetary Board.

Recto is a grandson of Claro M. Recto, and is married to veteran actress and “star for all seasons” Vilma Santos, who previously served as Lipa City mayor, and also as Batangas sixth district representative.