INALIS na bilang Finance Secretary si Benjamin Diokno at ipapalit sa kanya si House deputy speaker Ralph Recto ng Batangas.

Sa isang social media post, kinumpirma umano ng misis ni Recto na si dating Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos na ngayong araw, Enero 12, ay manunumpa ang kanyang mister kay Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., bilang Secretary ng Department of Finance (DOF).

Hindi pa naglalabas ng kumpirmasyon ang mambabatas habang sinusulat ito subalit agad inayunan ni House committee on ways and means chairman Rep. Joey Salceda ang umugong na appointment ni Recto.

“I welcome the likely appointment of fellow tax reformer Rep. Ralph Recto as Finance Secretary,” ani Salceda na siyang katuwang ng Finance Secretary sa Kamara sa paghahanap ng mga karagdagang pondo.

Kumpiyansa si Salceda na hindi mahirap makatrabaho si Recto dahil sa karanasan nila sa paggawa ng mga batas na may kinalaman sa ekonomiya bilang dating chairman ng Senate committee on ways and means.

“His experience and network will be crucial in enacting meaningful reforms to address cost of living, create employment, and expand our fiscal space,” ayon pa sa kongresista.

Kabilang aniya si Recto sa pangunahing author ng 1997 Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.

“I am optimistic that key tax reforms pending in the Senate will also move faster with his appointment, due to his relationships in that chamber, as well as his ability to broker viable compromises,” dagdag pa ni Salceda.

(BERNARD TAGUINOD)