Bersamin denies resigning as Executive Secretary
Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin denied resigning from his post after he was replaced by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.
Palace press officer Claire Castro announced on Nov. 17 that Bersamin tendered his resignation "out of delicadeza" along with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, citing claims that tagged their departments in the flood control corruption scandal.
But in a message sent to ABS-CBN News anchor Karen Davila on Wednesday, Nov. 19, he said he didn't step down from his position, contrary to what the Palace earlier announced.
"I did not resign. Earlier in the day last November 17, someone called to tell I had to go as the ES. The call was not from Malacañang," Bersamin's message read. "I informed the President by text that I had no problem exiting. About 2 p.m., the PCO reportedly announced my resignation 'out of delicadeza.' Still, I did not submit any letter as of then."
Davila said Bersamin called her to say “I am not the mastermind of anything" and that he needed to protect his reputation.
Corruption allegations
This came a day after Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, in a 2026 budget plenary debate, implicated Bersamin in P52 billion in budget insertions that he allegedly said he would "take care" of, quoting former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.
Per Lacson, Bernardo said Olaivar prevented him from divulging information on the said amount to former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
"Sinabihan siya ni Usec. Trygve Olaivar na si Secretary Bonoan asked Executive Secretary Bersamin several times. Sino ba magfafacilitate nitong P52 billion? Of course, isasama sa bicam," he said. "Paano ito irerelease? Sino magfa-facilitate? Ang sagot ni ES Bersamin sa kanya, 'We will take care of it.' Sila na daw bahala."
Lacson also mentioned that Lucas' grandson, former presidential legislative liaison office chief Adrian Bersamin, was the one who allegedly told former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co that it was the President’s order to include P100 billion insertions in the 2025 national budget during its bicameral conference.
The senator added that Bernardo's account of this incident might be the reason for Bersamin's resignation.
On the same day, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla told One News' Storycon that charges of “conspiracy to commit plunder” are being eyed against Pangandaman and the younger Bersamin over alleged "conspiracy to defraud the government."
Remulla added that Adrian has long been under his radar, recalling past disagreements with the then-executive secretary regarding the younger Bersamin’s actions, particularly an incident involving appointments not sought by Remulla’s office.
The Ombudsman noted that while he never suspected wrongdoing in the former ES, he criticized him for failing to restrain his grandson.
“I deemed it a bit of a weakness on his part to allow somebody like Adrian to run around the place, and it was very disconcerting for me to see that,” Remulla said.
On Nov. 17, Castro announced that Pangandaman and Bersamin voluntarily stepped down from their roles in the government. Recto took over Bersamin's position as ES, while property tycoon Frederick Go was appointed as Finance Acting Secretary.
On Nov. 19, Bersamin shut down the corruption claims against him, according to The Philippine STAR.
“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," he said. "Bernardo could not be a credible source of relevant information if his knowledge looks and sounds like at least triple hearsay."