Bersamin denies Palace line on his Cabinet exit
Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday disputed Malacañang’s earlier statement that he resigned, clarifying instead that he was asked to step down from his post.
“I didn’t file any resignation. What came out—I just read it—was that I resigned out of delicadeza. It sounds nice, out of delicadeza, but it’s not true; I didn’t resign,” he told reporters in Filipino.
According to Bersamin, a “very close friend,” whom he declined to identify, called him early Monday to inform him that he had to “exit” his post.
“So I said there’s no problem with that. I will accept that because I am only serving at the pleasure of the President,” Bersamin said, adding he no longer asked the reason behind the order. “I didn’t even ask. I already know that. When it’s a prerogative, the President doesn’t need a reason.”
That same afternoon, Palace press officer Claire Castro announced that Bersamin, as well as Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, voluntarily resigned out of delicadeza after their names were dragged into the ongoing corruption investigation involving public works projects.
Bersamin said Castro’s statement was completely false.
“I’ll just assume that they were acting on some basis, that they had their own reasons. But I am disputing their statement that I resigned, because I did not,” he said when asked if he was able to speak with Castro or Presidential Communications Office acting Secretary Dave Gomez about it.
“So anyway, I will not take this badly. I was not disappointed. My only point is, when they make an announcement about [me]… they should have consulted me first; it’s just a matter of courtesy,” he also said.
President’s prerogative
After the announcement of his supposed “resignation,” Bersamin said he and President Marcos met to discuss matters and had their pictures taken, but he declined to disclose what they talked about.
“As for me, I’ve been in government for a long time—34 years in the judiciary, nearly three years in GSIS (Government Service Insurance System), and this one for over three years. So, I could quickly understand the impact. When you serve at the pleasure of the President, no reason is necessary,” he said.
Bersamin had “vehemently denied” accusations linking him to billions worth of insertions illegally made to the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Bersamin’s name cropped up during the Senate’s marathon plenary deliberations on the 2026 national budget on Tuesday, when Lacson said he was informed by resigned Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that the then executive secretary had allegedly promised to handle P52 billion worth of insertions in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget.
“I vehemently deny the imputation against me that I said anything to Sec. Bonoan that ‘we will take care of it’ regarding the supposed facilitation of the P52 billion,” said Bersamin in a Viber message to the Inquirer.
“Bernardo could not be a credible source of relevant information if his knowledge looks and sounds like at least triple hearsay,” he added.
New roles for Recto, Go
On Wednesday, President Marcos administered the oath of office to Bersamin’s replacement, former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, and Frederick Go as the new head of the Department of Finance during a ceremony at Malacañang.
Go vacated his post as special assistant to the President for investment and economic affairs and no replacement has been announced yet.
In a statement, Recto laid out his marching orders as the new executive secretary: Focus on governance, monitor the performance of departments, and maximize their outputs.
He said he wants to make sure that agencies are doing their job and delivering their promises to the people.
Go, for his part, said he is fully committed to promoting fiscal strength and sustainable economic growth.
Aside from Recto and Go, Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo was also appointed as officer in charge of the Department of Budget and Management, replacing Pangandaman, who quit her post out of delicadeza, according to Castro.
