MANILA - Former Socio-economic Planning Secretary Ralph Recto and his wife, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, have left the administration coalition Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats and joined the Liberal Party (LP).  

LP campaign manager Florencio 'Butch' Abad said he confirmed the news from LP presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III. He said that while the Rectos have yet to take their oaths as LP members, both have already sealed their prospective memberships with the LP after discussions with Aquino.

In an interview on ANC, Recto said he decided to join the LP after a month of consultations with leaders, stakeholders, family, friends and staff. He added that his and the Aquino and Roxas families have history together. 

"Our families go back a long way. My grandfather [Claro M. Recto] and Noynoy's grandfather [Benigno Aquino Sr.] were together during the administration of President [Jose] Laurel. In 1946, my father was elected in the Senate under the administratin of Manuel Roxas, grandfather of Senator Mar." 

"Mar has been a seatmate of mine. He is the godfather of my son so it was not difficult for us to talk with regard to many issues that the country will face next year and the years to come," he said.

Recto, who is running for senator under the LP banner, admitted that he had been wooed by the Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar who is running for president. "Manny is a good friend of mine. I was with him when he ran for Speaker and the Senate presidency. We were not together in the last elections. He was with the opposition and I was with the administration in 2007," he said. 

He said he will bring to the LP the concept of developing local industries and small and medium-size enterprises, which is essential to surviving the aftershocks of the global economic crisis. 

He added that he will also support all the LP candidates in the vote-rich province of Batangas, which is still dominated by officials allied with Lakas-Kampi CMD. He said he will ask local officials in Batangas to join the LP. 

The Rectos' defection to the Liberal Party is the latest in a series of exits by key administration allies from the Lakas-Kampi CMD. 

At least 125 local officials and administration allies have left the ruling party, including Alaminos, Pangasinan Mayor Hernani Braganza, Pangasinan Rep. Victor Agbayani, North Cotabato Rep. Bernardo Piñol Jr., Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong" Maliksi, the Osmeña clan of Cebu, and Cesar Montano – the actor who ran for senator in the 2007 elections under the administration party, but lost. 

LP unveils partial senatorial slate

In a related development, Senators Aquino and Roxas formally accepted their nomination as the Liberal Party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates next year. 

In his acceptance speech, Aquino acknowledged that the coming polls would test the LP but expressed confidence that the party can withstand criticism and unfounded allegations hurled by its opponents. 

"Hindi natin matatapatan ang yaman ng ating katunggali pero tayo ay nananalig sa isang Diyos na nagsasabing gawin natin ang tama (We cannot match the wealth of our opponent, but we rely on a God who tells us to do what is right)," he said in a veiled reference to Nacionalista Party bet and real estate mogul Villar. 

The LP's national directorate also formally affirmed the nomination of its top candidates for the 2010 polls. 

The partial senatorial line-up is made up of Recto, detained Brigadier General Danilo Lim, former Senators Sergio Osmeña and Franklin Drilon, Congressmen Rozzano "Ruffy" Biazon, Teofisto "TG" Guingona III and Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, former Congressman Nereus Acosta, and Sonia Roco, widow of the late presidential candidate Raul Roco. With a report from Ces Drilon, ABS-CBN News