Ralph Recto

Ralph G. Recto
Official portrait, 2022
33rd Secretary of Finance
Assumed office
January 12, 2024
PresidentBongbong Marcos
Preceded byBenjamin Diokno
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office
July 27, 2022 – January 12, 2024
Serving with several others
SpeakerMartin Romualdez
Succeeded byDavid Suarez
Member of the House of Representatives from Batangas
In office
June 30, 2022 – January 12, 2024
Preceded byVilma Santos
Succeeded byVacant
Constituency6th district
In office
June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001
Preceded byJose E. Calingasan
Succeeded byOscar Gozos
Constituency4th district
Senate Minority Leader
In office
July 25, 2016 – February 27, 2017
Preceded byJuan Ponce Enrile
Succeeded byFranklin Drilon
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office
February 27, 2017 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byFranklin Drilon
Succeeded byMigz Zubiri (acting)
In office
July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded byJinggoy Estrada
Succeeded byFranklin Drilon
Senator of the Philippines
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007
In office
July 23, 2008 – August 16, 2009
PresidentGloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by
Succeeded by
First Gentleman of Batangas
In role
June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
GovernorVilma Santos
Preceded byEdna Sanchez
Succeeded byRegina Reyes Mandanas
Personal details
Born
Ralph Gonzalez Recto

(1964-01-11) January 11, 1964 (age 60)
Quezon City, Philippines
Political partyNacionalista (2004–2007; 2018–present)
Other political
affiliations
Spouse
(m. 1992)
ChildrenRyan Recto
Residences
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionBureaucrat
Economist
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Ralph Gonzalez Recto (Tagalog pronunciation: [gonˈsalɛs ˈrɛktɔ]; born January 11, 1964) is a Filipino politician currently serving as the 33rd Secretary of Finance under President Bongbong Marcos since January 12, 2024. He previously served as the representative for Batangas' 6th district and as the House Deputy Speaker from 2022 to 2024.

Recto also previously served three terms in the Senate: from 2001 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2022 and had served as president pro tempore of the Senate and Senate Minority Leader. He started his political career as the representative of Batangas' 4th district from 1992 to 2001.

In 2007, Recto lost his Senate reelection bid because, as many analysts believed, he had authored the unpopular EVAT (Expanded Value Added Tax) law. In July 2008 he was appointed to head the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Arroyo administration, but resigned from his position in August 2009 in preparation for another run for the Senate in the 2010 elections.[1]

He is a grandson of statesman Claro M. Recto. His wife is actress-politician Vilma Santos.

  1. ^ Larano, Cris. "UPDATE:Philippines Econ Chief Quits To Prepare For Elections". Nasdaq. Retrieved August 11, 2009.