Light Banter Sparks Uncomfortable Reactions
During a recent House of Representatives committee hearing on the proposed 2026 national budget, a light father-and-son banter involving Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and Batangas 6th District Rep. Ryan Recto stirred mixed feelings among lawmakers and observers. The exchange, which took place during a critical budget deliberation, prompted Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña to express discomfort, emphasizing the need to maintain professionalism when wearing government hats.
In the online discussion, Cendaña addressed the younger Recto’s interpellation and the Finance Secretary’s jest about running against his son in Batangas if more questions were raised. “When I heard that… I heard the people in the room laughing, but when I was listening, it made me feel very uncomfortable. I am not comfortable with such banter, especially since this is a very critical process in framing not just the national budget, but also the development path of our country,” he shared.
Maintaining Professionalism Amid Family Ties
Cendaña underscored that lawmakers must be free to question resource persons without limitations, regardless of any familial relationship. “Congress should be given the chance to ask questions, the executive will answer, and let that process be a process that everybody will respect, there should be no limitation in terms of who and when to ask the questions,” he explained.
He added, “Because I think, regardless of what the relation is between the interpellator and the resource person, at the end, the hat that we should be wearing is our hat as a lawmaker and as government officials from the executive branch.” This statement highlights the importance of separating personal dynamics from official duties during government proceedings.
Budget Deliberations and a Playful Exchange
On the first day of budget discussions, Rep. Ryan Recto lamented that the Philippines narrowly missed achieving upper-middle-income country status, citing gross national income per capita figures. In response, Secretary Ralph Recto assured his son and attendees that the goal would be reached by 2025. “Don’t worry, we will catch up by this year,” the Secretary said, eliciting laughter.
He humorously added, “And if you still have a lot of questions to throw at me, I will run against you in our district,” which brought further chuckles from lawmakers and Development Budget Coordination Committee officials present.
Public Reactions and Political Dynasty Concerns
The lighthearted moment divided netizens. Some appreciated the brief levity amid intense budget talks, while others pointed out the presence of political families in government. Officials noted that before Rep. Ryan Recto took office, his father served as Batangas’ 6th District representative and was a deputy speaker in the 19th Congress. Secretary Recto stepped down in January 2024 after being appointed Finance Secretary by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Currently, Secretary Recto’s wife and Ryan Recto’s mother, the celebrated actress Vilma Santos, serves as Batangas governor. Community members remarked that this family’s political involvement exemplifies the ongoing issue of political dynasties in the Philippines.
Calls to Address Political Dynasties
Rep. Cendaña acknowledged the validity of public concerns regarding political dynasties, noting ongoing discussions about outlawing such family dominance in politics. “I understand the concerns of our people when it comes to this, because the issue of political dynasties was emphasized and we feel that this cause of concern is a valid one. So the conversation yesterday opened up a very important discourse on our talks about political dynasties,” he said.
He further stressed the need to separate personal relationships from official roles, stating, “We understand that is a fatherly banter, but at the same time, it’s a cause for concern, because at the end, when they face each other — whether they are father-and-son — the hat that we are wearing is that as representatives of the people as members of the House and as government officials for the members of the executive.”
Legislative Efforts to Ban Political Dynasties
Several bills aiming to prohibit political dynasties have been filed in the House for the 20th Congress. Notably, the Makabayan bloc introduced House Bill No. 209, or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act. This measure seeks to prevent family members within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity from simultaneously holding or running for national and local elective positions.
The bill also aims to block individuals within the prohibited civil degrees of relationship from succeeding one another in elective offices. Meanwhile, Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores confirmed filing a separate bill, advocating for a clear definition and ban on political dynasties.
Flores, who admits benefiting from his own political family background, supports leveling the playing field by banning immediate relatives from succeeding incumbents. He pointed out that candidates related to current officials enjoy advantages such as name recall that others lack.
For more news and updates on political families, visit Filipinokami.com.
