CHARGES of illegal possession of firearms and direct assault are being readied against former Batangas Vice Gov. Richard “Ricky” Recto, who was arrested last Sunday by operatives of the PNP Anti-Cybercrime group and Eastern Police District.
Recto, the brother of former senator and now Batangas 6th District Rep. Ralph Recto, was nabbed in his residence in Valle Verde 6 in Pasig City during the implementation of a Warrant to Search, Seize and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD) issued by a court.
The ACG applied for the warrant based on the complaint filed by a former girlfriend of Recto for violation of Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004), in relation to Republic Act 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2021. The ex-girlfriend was not identified.
The court granted the ACG request last Friday, leading to its enforcement at around 10 a.m. last Sunday
“During the implementation of the WSSECD, digital devices were seized,” said ACG spokeswoman 1Lt. Michelle Sabino, without elaborating on the content of the seized digital devices.
Sabino said policemen saw in plain view two 9 mm pistols, a cal. 25 pistol, a cal. 40 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun, all of them unlicensed.
Sabino said Recto will also face a case for direct assault as he “deliberately attacked one of the members of the operating team which caused injury to his arm.”
Recto was brought to the ACG headquarters in Camp Crame while charges were being prepared against him.
He filed a certificate of candidacy for Batangas governor in the recent May elections but later withdrew and supported Hermilando Mandanas, who went on to win another term as governor.
Recto was charged with murder and frustrated murder for the death of two people and wounding of then Gov. Armando Sanchez during a June 2006 explosion in front of the provincial capitol in Batangas City.
The Department of Justice dropped the charges in 2014 due to lack of probable cause.
ACG director Brig. Gen. Bowenn Joey Masauding commended the ACG and EPD operatives “for this sterling accomplishment,” saying “You have exemplified that teamwork and intelligence produce positive results.
“The PNP-ACG remains committed to its mandate of attaining a more secure and safer cyber environment,” Masauding added. — With Christian Oineza
