Recto shows DAR certification to belie he’s on Luy’s list

Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines –  Senate Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Tuesday  released a certification from the Department of Agrarian Reform that  would belie a report linking him into  the “pork barrel” scam.

“This is to certify that per available records, the DAR Office of the Secretary has not received a letter from Senator Ralph G. Recto dated 30 August 2010,”  said  the one-page  certification issued on May 14, 2014 and  signed by Justin Vincent La Chica, head executive assistant of the  DAR’s Office of  the Secretary.

“This certification is being issued for whatever legal purpose it  may serve,”  it further said.

The certification, according to a statement from Recto’s office, clarifies a Philippine Daily Inquirer  report that the senator was among those who supposedly transacted with alleged “pork” scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

The report, quoting an alleged digital records of whistleblower Benhur Luy, mentioned a “letter supposedly from Recto dated Aug. 30, 2010, for Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes in which he requested P10-million for agrarian reform projects nationwide.”

“No other record on Recto appears in Luy’s files,” the report said.

“This certification further  proves that Senator Recto never dealt with Janet Lim-Napoles, Benhur Luy, their agents or any NGOs (non-government organizations),” said a statement from Recto’s office.

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