Camille Naredo

Former Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, PPA pool/File

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Also at the briefing are Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go (2nd from L) and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan (Far R ). PPA/Pool, Jonathan Cellona.

Article (news)

World Economic Forum

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178281449972520240319-world-economic-forum-JC-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Former Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, PPA pool/File"/>Former Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, PPA pool/File</div>MANILA — Some House lawmakers denied having knowledge of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, previously the Department of Finance (DOF) secretary, allegedly interfering in the passage of a wage hike measure into law during the 19th Congress.Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste made the accusation during a House Committee on Labor &amp; Employment hearing on Tuesday, saying Recto called members of the bicameral conference committee to block its passage. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/6/30/labor-chief-announces-historic-p85-day-wage-hike-in-metro-manila-1127">READ: Labor chief announces &#x27;historic&#x27; P85/day wage hike in Metro Manila</a></div>“As I understand, the gentleman from Kamanggagawa party list already named certain members of the cabinet who have been seen to be those blocking the passage of the wage hike… I don&#x27;t want it to come from me because they will say that it&#x27;s hearsay. I&#x27;d like to ask anyone here in this room with knowledge of the reason why this was not approved on the last day of the 19th Congress despite it having been approved by the House,” Leviste said.In response, Cavite 1st District Representative Ramon Jolo Revilla III said the Senate and the House of Representatives could not agree on the amount for the increase.“I have no knowledge but number one, hindi lang po nagkasundo ang Senado at ang Kongreso kung magkano ba dapat ang itaas ng sahod– P200 ba o P100 ba,” Revilla said.House Deputy Speaker TUCP party-list Representative Raymond Mendoza then said he concurs with Revilla’s statement.Alleging unconstitutionality, Mendoza also proposed revisiting rules regarding the process of passing laws, due to the prevalence of measures not making it past the bicam level. “Pumasa na sa Kongreso. Pumasa na sa Senado. Pinatay lang sa bicam. So there must be a way, if it has reached to that level na hindi na dapat na patayin na lang sa– as lawyers will say the third house– which is wrong, which is even unconstitutional… Sayang talaga that the 200 wage bill died because of circumstances like that,” Mendoza said.Leviste went on to name Recto as the official who intervened on the last day of the 19th Congress, also specifying that it was not President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.“In defense of the president, it was not him who made the call on the last day of the 19th Congress. It was the member of the cabinet just named by Congressman San Fernando… We were informed just a few minutes ago that it was Ralph Recto that called members of the bicam on the last day of the 19th Congress not to pass the wage hike bill.” “We have no knowledge,” Revilla said in response to this.Kamanggagawa party-list Representative Elijah San Fernando, however, said they believe it is the chief executive opposing the wage increase. “For us in Kamanggagawa party list, malinaw sa amin that no other than the president is opposing itong legislated wage increase at ‘yung nakabinbin ngayon na House Bill No. 8081– ‘yung pagbubuwag ng provincial rate,” San Fernando told the media after the committee meeting.Recto previously denied Leviste&#x27;s accusation on blocking the wage increase measure.<div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/26/recto-denies-leviste-s-accusation-of-blocking-minimum-wage-increase-1815">READ: Recto denies Leviste’s accusation of blocking minimum wage increase in 19th Congress</a></div><div> </div><div>‘FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY’</div>After the hearing, a lawmaker also spoke up about the rally along EDSA on Tuesday.ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said they respect freedom of assembly, whatever the rallyists’ call may be.But Tinio said authorities must keep watch of the traffic situation for Filipinos who also need to work and travel. “Siguro usapin lang ito ng pagtiyak ng mga awtoridad na magpapatuloy pa rin ang daloy ng trapiko para mabalanse ‘yung interes nung mga kababayan natin na kailangang magtrabaho, mag-commute and so on,” Tinio said.“Kung anuman ang isyu nila, nirerespeto natin ang freedom of assembly,” Tinio added.

Some House lawmakers denied having knowledge of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, previously the Department of Finance (DOF) secretary, allegedly interfering in the passage of a wage hike measure into law during the 19th Congress.

Some House lawmakers denied having knowledge of Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, previously the Department of Finance (DOF) secretary, allegedly interfering in the passage of a wage hike measure into law during the 19th Congress.

Lawmakers deny knowledge of alleged interference from Recto on wage hike bill

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Lawmakers deny knowledge of alleged interference from Recto on wage hike bill

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 30, 2026 06:15 PM PHT

Read More:

wage hike

19th Congress

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