Former ES Bersamin: I did not resign

MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to what Malacañang had announced, former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin yesterday said he did not resign but had willingly stepped down when told he was being replaced.

“I don’t know how it started that I resigned. Maybe it was announced. But I didn’t file a resignation, because it was announced that I resigned out of delicadeza. It’s nice to hear ‘out of delicadeza,’ but that’s not true. I didn’t resign,” Bersamin said in a phone interview with reporters.

Malacañang on Monday announced his “resignation” as well as that of budget chief Amenah Pangandaman after their offices got dragged into the controversy over anomalies in budget insertions and flood control projects.

Bersamin’s replacement, former finance chief Ralph Recto, took his oath at Malacañang yesterday, along with acting Finance secretary Frederick Go.

“The only letter that I sent regarding my position that it’s gone, was that letter I signed yesterday (Tuesday), late afternoon. I said, I bow to the prerogative of the President, submit to the prerogative of the President to replace me. That is the nature of my tenure, serving at the pleasure of the President,” Bersamin said.

At a briefing on Monday, Palace press officer Claire Castro announced that Bersamin and Pangandaman “respectfully offered and tendered their resignations out of delicadeza after their departments were mentioned in allegations related to the flood control anomaly currently under investigation and in recognition of the responsibility to allow the administration to address the matter appropriately.”

Bersamin said he relayed in a letter to Malacañang on Tuesday his willingness to be replaced, a day after Castro announced his supposed resignation.

“The announcement was made around 2 o’clock, Monday, Nov. 17. You know, for these kinds of processes, there should be a logical reason,” he said. “There should be a resignation before you accept, right?”

He said that prior to Castro’s announcement, he received a call from an unnamed “close friend” informing him that he had to go.

“Somebody, a close friend of mine, at least as far as I know, called me up in the morning, maybe before 12 o’clock, to tell me that I have to go, to leave as executive secretary, exit already, so I said, ‘no problem. I will accept that because I am only serving at the pleasure of the President,’ ” Bersamin narrated.

He said he did not ask why he had been asked to leave his post.

“I didn’t ask because I know that if it’s a prerogative, the President does not need a reason,” he added.

Bersamin said he met with President Marcos on Monday night, but he did not disclose details of the meeting.

“Those matters are between him and me because as of that time, although it was announced that I resigned, and I was still technically speaking on holdover so covered by the technical protection of confidentiality. I will not discuss that with you,” he said.

“As for me, I’ve been in government for so long – 34 years in judiciary and then nearly three years in GSIS and then this one, over three years, so I could understand quickly the impact. If you serve at the pleasure of the President, no reason is necessary,” Bersamin added.

Feeling bad

Bersamin admitted that he “felt bad somehow” when Castro announced without informing him that he had resigned.

“But I am not going to waste time worrying about the nuance or the way they did it because maybe they were also under instruction or given the impression that I have a resignation. I cannot blame them for that. But I would like to correct the impression that I resigned. I never did resign,” Bersamin said.

At the same time, Bersamin rejected Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson’s linking him to the alleged P100-billion bicameral insertions in the national budget.

“That is a big problem because I do not know about those. The Office of the Executive Secretary does not have anything to do with insertions or budget. Our own budget is what we submit. But we do not have anything to do with the budget of other agencies,” he added.

According to Lacson, he was told by former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that Marcos was name-dropped by two undersecretaries – Trygve Olaivar of the Department of Education and Adrian Bersamin of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office – in trying to convince former congressman Zaldy Co that it was the President who ordered insertions in the bicam.

“Adrian is like my grandson. He is like my son. He is the grandson of my oldest brother who was killed so I have been a part of his life since that time. He was still a child. I was helping him when he was helping me. He was a good boy,” Bersamin said.

The former executive secretary added that he is ready to face any charges against him, but not at the Senate.

“No, not to the Senate. You know, I have been a lawyer and a judge for a long time. These things should ultimately be established in court. I am not asking for the purposes of these declarations. There should now be evidence acceptable by the court. It is up to them to ask questions because I cannot control whatever they want to say. But at least, the harshness of social media is there. It should be guarded. It should be guarded so that people’s reputations will not be damaged,” Bersamin said.

He said he had talked with Adrian “a lot of times, but I will not go beyond that.”

“It is up to you to research if what I said is true or not. But we have talked several times. I know what is true,” he said, as he maintained his innocence. “I stand by my integrity.”

Despite his surprise exit from the Cabinet, Bersamin said the Philippines is safer with Marcos than with Vice President Sara Duterte.

‘Philippines safer with Marcos Jr.’

“I’m not disparaging (Duterte) and her qualifications, but I think it’s safer for the Philippines to stay with President Marcos,” Bersamin said in an interview with One News.

“The President is a very competent person. He is very focused. I think of all the people who vied for the presidency, he was the most qualified. It turned out to be true when I observed him working firsthand,” Bersamin added.

“I always say to him (Marcos), ‘I am lucky that my boss is not a lawyer.’ I don’t want to have a change in government,” he pointed out.

Recto as ES lauded

House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan lauded Recto’s appointment as executive secretary.

“We have long regarded Secretary Recto as a steady and discerning hand in government. His ability to navigate complex policy issues and his record of practical problem-solving will greatly benefit the President and the entire executive branch,” Libanan said.

“Recto’s presence in Malacañang will help promote clarity, consistency and responsiveness in decision-making at a time when the country requires firm and thoughtful governance,” Libanan said, citing Recto’s sterling background as former congressman and senator.

“Secretary Recto brings a rare combination of executive experience, legislative depth and economic insight. His long record in public service consistently demonstrates discipline, sound judgment and an unwavering focus on results,” he said.

“The Office of the Executive Secretary demands rigor and reliability. With Secretary Recto helping steer the administration, we anticipate a more orderly, responsive and well-coordinated government,” Libanan said.

He also cited Recto’s analytic mind and steady leadership. “Secretary Recto can work through complex details without losing sight of long-term national objectives – a balance indispensable in public administration,” he added.

Recto’s economic background, Libanan pointed out, would be crucial to an administration that is confronting fiscal pressures and pursuing structural reforms.

Meanwhile, with his appointment as DOF chief, Go said the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs is set “to be dissolved.” Go was appointed OSAPIEA head in December 2023.  –  Delon Porcalla, Louella Desiderio