Ralph Recto

Ralph Gonzalez Recto (Tagalog pronunciation: [gonˈsalɛs ˈrɛktɔ]; born January 11, 1964) is a Filipino politician who has served as the executive secretary on an ad interim basis since 2025 under President Bongbong Marcos. He previously served as the 33rd secretary of finance from 2024 to 2025 under President Marcos, the representative for Batangas' 6th district from 1992 to 2001 and from 2022 to 2024, and as the House deputy speaker from 2022 to 2024. Recto also previously served three terms in the Senate: from 2001 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2022, and he had served as president pro tempore of the Senate and Senate minority leader. He started his political career as the representative of Batangas' 4th district from 1992 to 2001. In 2007, Recto lost his Senate re-election bid because, as many analysts believed, he had authored the unpopular EVAT (Expanded Value Added Tax) law. In July 2008, he was appointed to head the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Arroyo administration but resigned from his position in August 2009 in preparation for another run for the Senate in the 2010 elections. He is a grandson of statesman Claro M. Recto. His wife is actress-politician Vilma Santos.