Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said Wednesday Cabinet members intending to run in the 2010 national and local elections need not resign before the Nov. 30 deadline for the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Enrile told Senate reporters that he learned Economic Planning Secretary Ralph G. Recto announced his resignation, effective Aug. 15, to seek a seat in the Senate in next year’s elections.

Asked on whether Cabinet members who intend to run next year should resign so that they could not use government funds available in their offices, Enrile said, “I don’t think that is correct.

“They are bound by their ethics of their office. I have been a Cabinet member. I never used my position. I just filed (my certificate of candidacy) and I was automatically resigned,” Enrile said.

“What I say (on Cabinet members resigning) does not matter. Each to his own discretion,” he added.

Meanwhile, a party-list representative expressed belief on Wednesday that the resignation of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director General Ralph Recto may have deeper reasons.

In a press briefing, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Teddy Casino said that Recto’s running for senator in next year’s presidential and local elections may not only be the reason for his resignation.

Casino said that as NEDA chief, Recto might have stumbled upon numerous irregular deals within the agency which prompted him to resign.

He added that his differences with Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes and the oil companies with regards to the pricing of oil could also be a reason.

" As NEDA secretary, nakita niya kabuuan ng deals and contracts. Probably, ang dahilan ng pag-alis niya hindi na niya masikmura ang pinagagawa sa kanya sa NEDA. Baka may midnight contracts na pinahahabol (sa kanya) dahil malapit na election season. Hindi kasi normal yan eh. Kapag nasa position ka, pwede mo gatasan ang position mo eh," Casino told reporters during the Fernandina Forum at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan City.

Former party-list representative and Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms (IPER) chairperson Etta Rosales said Recto did the right thing in resigning from his post so that he won't be accused of using his position to gain advantage in his bid to become a senator again.

"In the case of NEDA chief Ralph Recto who is already resigned, tama na nag withdraw siya from his post. Ganun dapat ang mga appointees. Huwag araw-arawin ang media projections nila just because kaya nila maglabas ng commercials when in fact, eh posturing na nila iyan para tumakbo for public office," she said.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo has accepted the resignation of Recto, who was appointed NEDA chief in July, 2008 a year after he lost in the senatorial race.

“I don’t see why the President will not accept it. She respects his decision,” Ermita said.

Ermita said NEDA deputy director general Augusto Santos will serve as officer in charge when Recto’s resignation takes effect.