Palace denies Recto has resigned

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday denied rumors that Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has stepped down from his post.

“Not true,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a text message, when asked about social media posts claiming Recto has resigned.

Recto was appointed finance chief in January last year, succeeding Benjamin Diokno who is now a member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Monetary Board.

A former three-term senator, Recto represented the 6th district of Batangas before joining the Marcos Cabinet. He also served as the chief of the National Economic and Development Authority during the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Meanwhile, Castro confirmed that scientist Gay Jane Perez has been named officer-in-charge of the Philippine Space Agency.

Perez, the agency’s deputy director general for space science and technology, replaced former director general Joel Marciano Jr.