ES Recto’s ‘contratista’ ties will further smear Bongbong

Breese Marcos dumped Lucas Bersamin as executive secretary. He wanted to distance himself from the P1.7-trillion flood works scam. But in appointing Ralph Recto, BBM will all the more be dragged in.

- JARIUS BONDOC

Bersamin was indirectly linked to ex-Rep. Zaldy Co, the biggest “contratista”- congressman. Recto is closely tied to Rep. Tirso Edwin Gardiola, the second biggest.

Actually Gardiola is now the biggest contractor-congressman, after Co resigned in September. It’s out of the frying pan into the fire for BBM.

Recto’s bond to Gardiola was shown in May 2024. He and then-speaker Martin Romualdez godfathered the lavish wedding of Gardiola’s offspring in Florence, Italy.

Gardiola billeted his kumpadres in the fanciest Florentine hotel and feted them with stretch limousines. He supposedly paid their first-class roundtrip plane fares and other travel luxuries.

Recto and Gardiola are Batangas provincemates. Recto’s wife Vilma Santos is provincial governor. Their son Ryan Recto is sixth district congressman.

Gardiola has several public works contracts in Batangas. Recto represented the sixth district until December 2023, before joining Marcos’ Cabinet in January 2024 as Finance secretary.

Gardiola recently hit the headlines when exposed by Batangas first district Rep. Leandro Leviste. The latter complained that Gardiola inserted P22-billion public works in the 2025 national budget, including a billion in his first district.