P1M offer up for arrest of ex-Batangas vice gov

A P1 million bounty is being offered for the arrest of former Batangas vice governor Richard "Ricky" Recto, accused of masterminding the June 2006 failed assassination attempt on then governor Armand Sanchez. The offer was made by Sanchez himself, who survived the attack but lost two bodyguards from it. Ferdinand Topacio, legal counsel for Sanchez, dropped by Camp Crame on Wednesday to inform the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) about the reward offer. "There are no more other legal obstacle para magtuloy-tuloy na itong kaso na ito (for this case to push through)," Topacio said in a press conference. The reward offer came a day after Judge Ruben Galvez of the Batangas Regional Trial Court Branch 3 issued a warrant of arrest against Recto and his co-accused. Sanchez also offered a P500,000 reward each for any information that would lead to the arrest of Recto’s co-accused, namely lawyer Christopher Belmonte, nephew of Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte; Christina Antonio; and Bettina Balderrama. Recto and some of the accused have questioned their inclusion in the case before the Court of Appeals. Also implicated in the case are First Lieutenant Angelbert Gay, 2nd Lieutenant Aldrin Baldonado and Lieutenant (junior grade) Kiram Sadava, who are allegedly members of the mutinous Magdalo group. The Magdalo was the same group that stormed the posh Oakwood Premier (now Ascott Residence) in Makati City on July 27, 2003 to protest the alleged rampant corruption in the Arroyo government. Slay try The case against Recto stemmed from the bombing attack on Sanchez's vehicle at the Batangas Provincial Capitol that killed Sanchez's driver Luisito Icaro and close-in security PO2 Eric Landicho on June 1, 2006. Sanchez was injured in the attack. Topacio said several members of the Magdalo group had earlier admitted in court that it was Recto who funded the assassination attempt. The soldiers allegedly claimed that Recto wanted Sanchez dead so he could take his place as governor. "According to the witnesses, meetings were held in Recto’s residence in Quezon City where Belmonte planned the killing of Sanchez together with renegade members of the military, as well as Antonio and Balderama, who provided explosives expertise and surveillance operations against Sanchez," Topacio said. Recto is the older brother of former senator and now National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general Ralph Recto and brother-in-law of incumbent Batangas Governor Vilma Santos. GMANews.TV tried reaching Ralph for comment but he has yet to reply as of this posting. Topacio said in the press conference that threats and harassment to him continue, noting that just last Tuesday, a funeral wreath was sent to his house in Parañaque City. In a statement read by Topacio, Sanchez said he is hoping that the case would be closed soon. "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 said on the issuance of warrant of arrest against the accused. No bail has been recommended for the defendants. - GMANews.TV