Senator Ralph Recto yesterday reiterated his call for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New People's Army to agree to a ceasefire over Lent.

"Lent is a time for praying, not fighting," Recto said. Recto, who was campaigning in Negros Occidental yesterday said he hopes both sides "silence their guns in observance of the Holy Week."

"If possible let us have the truce from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday," he said.

Recto said he fears that the arrest of Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, a former negotiator of the National Democratic Front, may have given rise to an atmosphere of distrust that would lead to the first time since 1986 that the NPA-AFP will not observe truce during Christendom's most sacred holiday.

The combatants of both parties could use the respite in battle to reflect on their careers in the profession of arms and think about the future of the nation, he said.

ON POLITICAL DYNASTIES

Recto is running for Senator under the administration's Team Unity, his wife movie star Vilma Santos is running for governor of Batangas, and his brother, Ricky, is running for congressman.

He said people elect candidates on their track record, and not on their surname.

"Vilma does not need any public office, she served Lipa for nine years (as mayor) but the people of Batangas want an encore," he said.

Many people in Batangas want the current governor out and that is also the major reason why his wife is running, he said.

If I had my way I would rather she continue her first love, which is the entertainment industry, and take care of our son who is 11 years old, he said.

DEFENDS EVAT

Recto yesterday also defended having authored the Revised Expanded Value Added Tax law saying many people promise heaven and earth but do not tell them where they will get the money for it.

If the country continues to borrow money to deliver services to people it will suffer a fiscal crisis that would have devastating effects on the people, he said.

Why should we mortgage our future when, with a balanced budget, we can stand on our own two feet, he said.

He called "EVAT a membership fee for being a Filipino but the rich pay more."

TEAM UNITY

Recto called on the people to give Team Unity a 12-O victory.

He said without a majority in the senate the President will have a difficult time pushing her economic reform agenda.

He said surveys show that what the Filipino people are concerned about are jobs, higher prices and higher pay, not in impeaching the president.

The opposition's wish to impeach the president will not create more jobs, he said.

It is easy to attack, but what is important is to work on making the country more competitive, reducing poverty and building a stronger house, we cannot keep shooting ourselves all the time, he said.

ON CARP

Recto said a good debate is also needed on whether or not to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program that ends next year, or whether support should just be provided to the existing agrarian reform beneficiaries.

"At the end of the day you have to think of increasing agriculture productivity," he said.

We need to determine if enough support has been extended to agrarian reform beneficiaries to succeed, and on how CARP has affected agricultural productivity, he said.

PULUPANDAN PROBLEM

Asked if he wanted to visit Pulupandan town where many residents are facing eviction, Recto said "I might be ejected from that town, too."

Recto is the brother of Marie Roxanne "Plinky" Recto, who has been engaged in a legal battle with Pulupandan mayoralty candidate Magdaleno Peña for custody of their son.

Peña is seeking the eviction of 3,000 residents on his family's property in the town.*CPG

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