DOJ clears ex-Batangas Vice Gov in 2006 bombing

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has cleared former Batangas vice governor Richard “Ricky” Recto of criminal charges in the June 2006 bombing in the provincial capitol that killed two people and wounded then governor Armando Sanchez.

In a 12-page resolution released yesterday, the DOJ reversed a resolution of the investigating city prosecutor in June 2009 that indicted Recto and six others for murder, frustrated murder and damage to property.

Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva, who reviewed the earlier resolution, granted Recto’s motion for reconsideration and held that there was no probable cause to indict him.

The DOJ said there was no specific proof showing Recto’s involvement in the alleged conspiracy to assassinate Sanchez.

“The evidence on hand points that the bombing could have been perpetrated by any other individual,” read the resolution. 

The DOJ also cited statements submitted by investigators showing that “there was never any meeting of the minds, no concrete agreement or plan was arrived at, no conspiracy was ever established, no definite personalities were identified that would be the subject and as to who would effectuate such plan were discussed.”

The DOJ said the statements used against Recto were “hearsay” since the witnesses were not present during the “actual planting of the bomb” that wrecked Sanchez’s Humvee vehicle on June 1, 2006.

The bombing killed Sanchez’s driver, Luisito Icaro, and close-in security PO2 Eric Landicho.

Recto is the older brother of Sen. Ralph Recto and brother-in-law of incumbent Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto. 

Sanchez sought re-election in 2007, but he lost to Santos-Recto in the gubernatorial race.