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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