Former National Economic Development Authority Director General Ralph Recto and his wife, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, have left the administration party Lakas-Kampi-CMD to support Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas, in next year’s elections.

The transfer of the popular actress-turned-governor to the LP is another telling blow to the administration party, which has yet to firm up its senatorial lineup.

The Rectos’ switching of allegiance was announced by Roxas during the Partido Liberal-National Executive Council meeting in Cubao, Quezon City Monday where the party also bared the inclusion of former Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña and detained Army Brig. Gen. Danilo Lim in its senatorial slate.

Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “Erin” Tañada, LP spokesman, confirmed that Santos together with her husband set to take her oath as member of the dominant opposition party.

“Yes, both Ralph and Vilma,” Tañada said when asked to confirm reports that the Recto couple is leaving the ruling party for the LP.

“They have agreed to take their oath as LP members. Sen. Recto (Ralph) will be joining the LP’s senatorial slate. Gov. Santos will be our candidate for governor,” he added.

The Rectos were known staunch political allies of President Arroyo. In 2007, they both ran under the Lakas banner, Santos as governor and Recto as part of the senatorial slate of the administration’s Team Unity.

Recto lost in his reelection bid for the Senate apparently due to his authorship of the unpopular Reformed Value-Added Tax (RVAT) Law that raised the sales tax to 12 percent from 10 percent.

It was earlier reported that Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr. was wooing the Recto couple.

Recto and Villar, standard-bearer of the Nacionalista Party, were close friends being members of the so-called Wednesday group in the Senate, along with Senators Joker Arroyo and Francis Pangilinan and Vice President Noli de Castro.

Santos was among those considered by the administration as a running-mate of Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro Jr., but she declined the offer saying she wanted to continue serving her province.

Her former husband, actor and TV host Edu Manzano, was eventually chosen as the administration party’s vice-presidential candidate.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles, vice-chairman of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, was surprised to learn about the Rectos’ defection.

“That’s terrible news for the administration party,” Nograles said in a text message to reporters.

But Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay, an administration stalwart, said the Rectos are not a big loss to the party.

“We also have equally talented and capable members who are willing to challenge her and fill the possible void if any in the province of Batangas,” Magsaysay said.

With the former NEDA chief joining the LP senatorial slate, the party now has at least nine candidates for the Senate, including Osmena and Lim.

The other LP Senate bets are former senator Franklin Drilon, now LP chairman; Bukidnon Rep. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III; former Bukidnon congressman Neric Acosta; Akbayan party list Rep. Riza Hontiveros Baraquel and Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, and Sonia Roco.

Roxas said the party welcomes the Recto couple with open arms since they espouse the party principle of clean and honest governance despite being identified with the Arroyo administration
in the past.

Roxas cited Ralph’s acceptability as an exceptional public servant as reflected in different surveys and his exemplary stint in government service, particularly at the NEDA where he was not tainted with any anomaly or allegations of graft and corruption.

“In fact, he resigned from NEDA because he failed to get Malacañang’s support in his suggestion to have the oil companies undergo investigation to determine if the series of oil price increases were justifiable or not. Based on that principle, he left the administration party,” Roxas, LP president, disclosed.

Recto's proposal to subject the oil companies to investigation for possible profiteering also triggered animosity between him and Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes.

Roxas said the 45-year-old Recto, who also served as senator from 2001 to 2007 under the administration party, was unanimously chosen by party officials and members to be included in their ranks.

“For us, this is a welcome addition. Senator Recto will be a positive force…not only in the elections but also in the good governance after the elections,” the LP vice presidential timber pointed out.

Also present during Partido Liberal NECO meeting were Aquino, Drilon, LP vice president Florencio “Butch” Abad, former senate president Jovito Salonga, Cavite Governor Ayong Maliksi, and Asingan, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Aloy Lim, wife of the detained general, emphasized during an interview that her husband remains a mere guest candidate of the LP since he has not decided what political party to join for his senatorial bid.

Lim, founder of the ultra-rightist Young Officers Union (YOU) that led a series of coup attempts against President Corazon Aquino (mother of Noynoy), was also included in the senatorial lineup of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada and of the Nacionalista Party of Villar.

“We welcome the LP’s endorsement of General Lim’s senatorial bid but he has yet to decide as to which party he will join,” Mrs. Lim emphasized.

Roxas said that they have forged an alliance with the YOU and the Aksiyon Demokratiko party of Mrs. Roco, wife of the late education secretary Raul Roco. (With a report from Charissa Luci)