SAN FRANCISCO, California — Speculations rise as Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s US trip, fueling rumors of Finance Secretary appointment.

Recto was on the presidential flight, PR001, that landed at 9:05 a.m. in San Francisco, California, on Wednesday (Manila time), marking the first time the congressman was part of the presidential delegation on an official visit.

Recto, a member of the Nacionalista Party, has been the subject of recent speculation as a potential replacement for current Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Diokno is also part of President Marcos's delegation to the US.

When asked why the Batangas solon joined the presidential flight, Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said Recto was "part of the House contingent with Speaker Martin Romualdez."

In a social media post, former presidential communications undersecretary Manolo Quezon highlighted the "legacy ties" between Marcos and Recto.

"Something increasingly to note is the existence of legacy ties. Ralph's father, Rafael Recto, was a Marcos loyalist who inspired the martial law-era joke that he was 'ni Claro, ni Recto' (neither clear nor right)," Quezon said on X (formerly Twitter).

Last September, Diokno dismissed rumors that he was on the verge of being dismissed due to supposed economic policy disagreements with the President and his allies.

"I don't comment on rumors, that's it. Speculations," Diokno had said in one of his weekly press briefings with Finance reporters.

Diokno has faced rumors he was on the way out. This is common, however, considering that the role of a finance secretary — tasked with overseeing government revenues and taxes — is among the least popular positions.

Last year, there were speculations that Albay Representative Joey Salceda might take over Diokno's post. Marcos expressed his view on the matter in November 2022 when he said, "It's a very, very poor time to, as they say, change horses in midstream."