Had Ralph Recto heeded his wife's request, he might not be the Secretary of Finance (SOF) today. This revelation was shared by veteran actress Vilma Santos-Recto, who openly admitted her strong opposition to President Marcos’ offer for her husband to take the role.
Santos-Recto opposed the offer due to the potential consequences of assuming the Department of Finance (DOF) leadership, considering the need for the position to make unpopular decisions that could harm his reputation.
"I really argued with Ralph, I don't want [this for him]. I told Ralph that, 'Ralph, no, no, no please'," Santos-Recto recalled her conversation with her husband upon learning about the SOF offer.
Standing alongside Recto and their children, Luis Manzano, along with his wife Jessy Mendiola, and Ryan Christian Recto at the DOF anniversary celebration late Friday, Santos-Recto candidly recounted the trials faced by her husband after championing the controversial expanded value-added tax (EVAT) during his time as a senator.
Despite the economic benefits of EVAT, which played an important role in guiding the Philippines away from recession almost 20 years ago, Santos-Recto lamented the public's lack of recognition for these accomplishments.
"If I may be honest, I had a bad experience with the EVAT," Santos-Recto shared with the DOF employees, prompting Recto to subtly intervene and prevent her from elaborating further.
However, despite her husband's efforts to intervene, Santos-Recto continued to share the challenges that Recto faced following the enactment of the EVAT law.
She, however, emphasized how the law saved the Philippine economy from a fiscal crisis despite being highly unpopular.
"He did the right thing!" exclaimed the veteran actress, earning applause from DOF employees who had also stood by then-Senator Recto during the contentious deliberations of the EVAT bill.
"He did the right thing because the recession in the Philippines did not happen. Unfortunately, that program did not become popular to the point that it caused him to lose one term," she shared in a mix of English and Filipino.
The increase of the VAT rate from 10 percent to 12 percent is frequently cited as the reason that hindered Recto from winning a second senatorial term in 2007.
"When that happened to him, I really felt bad," confessed Santos-Recto, expressing her concern that her husband's hard work and dedication might not be fully appreciated again now that he serves as the SOF.
"When he was offered the position of Secretary of Finance, I told him, 'Ralph, please, I don't want you to experience that pain again or for our family to suffer,'" she stated.
Nonetheless, President Marcos was insistent and keen on appointing Recto to lead the DOF, she revealed.
"I believe it was meant to be; he's here," Santos-Recto remarked, noting a change of heart after personally interacting with the DOF employees that night.
"After meeting all of you, the DOF family, and seeing your dedication, I am now at peace. Having met his team and the DOF family, all of you, I have faith that you will stand by him," Santos-Recto expressed.
In response, the finance chief reassured all DOF employees that he would not let them down either.