Palace: Bersamin submitted to Marcos’ discretion amid revamp

MANILA, Philippines — Did former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin resign or was he asked to quit?

While Bersamin stressed that he was told to step down, Malacañang said its earlier statement that he had resigned was based on an understanding that he was submitting himself to President Marcos’ discretion.

“The Palace acknowledges former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin’s clarification regarding the manner of his transition. As he himself stated in his interview, he submitted himself to the President’s discretion and prerogative as part of the ongoing reorganization,” Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing yesterday.

“The Palace announcement was issued in line with this understanding and with due regard for stability and continuity in governance,” she added.

Last Monday, Castro announced that Bersamin, former budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) chief undersecretary Adrian Bersamin had “voluntarily” resigned to allow a deeper probe on the flood control corruption.

She said the three officials quit out of delicadeza, noting that their offices were tied to the controversy, which has triggered protests and calls for accountability in government.

But the elder Bersamin, who served as executive secretary for more than three years, disputed the Palace statement, saying a close friend had told him to exit the post. He added that quitting out of delicadeza was nice to hear, but it was not true as he did not resign from his post.

Asked if she stands by her earlier statement that Bersamin resigned out of delicadeza, Castro replied: “What I was asked to announce came from the Palace and we respect the feelings of ES (executive secretary) Bersamin. We just announced what was stated by the Palace.”

The resignations came days after resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co alleged in a video statement that Marcos had ordered him to insert P100 billion worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.

Co, who led the House appropriations committee, claimed that Pangandaman, the PLLO chief and resigned House speaker and Marcos’ cousin Martin Romualdez had direct knowledge of the insertions. Marcos had said that he would not dignify the former lawmaker’s allegations.

Palace officials have downplayed Co’s claims, describing them as “ridiculous” and “full of loopholes.”

Former finance secretary Ralph Recto replaced Bersamin as executive secretary while Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo was named officer-in-charge of the agency. Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go was appointed finance chief.

Castro said Marcos and the former executive secretary had already spoken. “Let us just leave it at that,” she said.

Asked who removed Bersamin from his post, Castro said: “I mentioned earlier that I did not know who spoke with him... He submitted himself to the President’s prerogative, that’s all I can say and that resignation was accepted.”

Castro reiterated that no one would be spared from the ongoing investigation on questionable flood control projects.

“If there is a need to investigate private citizens, public officials, they will be investigated,” the Palace press officer said.