For the first time, Ralph Recto joins Bongbong Marcos’ trip abroad

Former senator and now Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto (left) at the San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 (US time). Recto joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to the United States for the the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders’ Summit in San Francisco. The US trip will also include working visits to Los Angeles and Hawaii. Philippine Daily Inquirer / Nestor Corrales

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Former senator and now Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto has joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in his weeklong trip to the United States that includes working visits to Los Angeles and Hawaii.

Recto was onboard flight PR001 or the presidential flight that arrived here at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday (Philippine time). This is the first time Recto joined Marcos’ trip abroad.

READ: Bongbong Marcos arrives in San Francisco for weeklong US trip

Recto, a House deputy speaker and a member of the Nacionalista Party, has been rumored to be replacing current Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who was also part of President Marcos’ delegation to the US. Malacañang has not confirmed such report.

Presidential Communciations Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil said Recto was “part of the House contingent with Speaker [Martin Romualdez].”

READ: Marcos likely to raise South China Sea dispute in US visit

Aside from Romualdez, Recto and Diokno, others who joined the President’s trip were Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco, Public Works Secretary Manny Bonoan, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, Budget Secretary Amenah, and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.