Sanchez offers P1 million for Recto's arrest

BATANGAS CITY , Philippines   – Former Batangas governor Armand Sanchez yesterday offered a P1-million reward for the arrest of former vice governor Richard “Ricky” Recto in connection with the attempt on his life in 2006.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Sanchez’s legal counsel, said the former governor offered the reward as Judge Ruben Galvez of the Batangas City Regional Trial Court Branch 3 has issued an arrest warrant for Recto for the complex crime of double murder with frustrated murder.

Topacio said Sanchez is also offering P500,000 each for the arrest of Recto’s co-accused – lawyer Christopher Belmonte, Christina Antonio, and a certain Bettina Balderama.

Topacio said Sanchez “is very happy and gratified that the case is nearing its closure with the impending arrest of the perpetrators.”

“This is another indication that the justice system in the country is working well and that people who commit dastardly crimes will be made to account for their sins, no matter how wealthy, powerful or influential,” he added.

Recto is the brother-in-law of Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos and brother of National Economic Development Authority Secretary Ralph Recto.

The court issued the arrest warrants against Recto and the other respondents after finding “sufficient proof” against them.

The case was bolstered by the sworn confessions of several soldiers connected with the Magdalo group, who alleged that Recto funded the bombing attack on Sanchez’s Hummer on June 1, 2006 so he could replace Sanchez as Batangas governor, after the two had a falling out in 2005.

Sanchez survived the explosion, but his driver and close-in security, Luisito Icaro and PO2 Eric Landicho, respectively, were killed.

Police have arrested two Magdalo soldiers, 1Lt. Angelbert Gay and Lt. Senior Grade Kiram Sadava, for the bombing. Both pleaded not guilty in their arraignment last Tuesday.

The STAR tried to contact Santos-Recto for comment, but she declined and instead sent this text message: “Wait lang muna tayo (Let’s just wait), at this point in time I don’t know yet if I am in a position to give any comment, you know naman the situation. He is still my brother in law. I need to know all angles of the case before I give any comment.”

Elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the province tried to serve the arrest warrant at Recto’s house in Barangay 6 Poblacion in Lipa City, but he was not around. – With Ed Amoroso and Cecille Suerte Felipe