In a significant shake-up within the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., two of his top-ranking Cabinet officials have voluntarily stepped down from their posts.
High-Profile Resignations Accepted
On Monday, November 17, 2025, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman formally resigned from their respective positions. The announcement was made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro during a press conference, where she confirmed that President Marcos had accepted their resignations.
Castro emphasized that the resignations were made voluntarily, citing the Filipino principle of "delicadeza," a sense of propriety and ethical refinement. This move came after their offices were implicated in serious allegations concerning flood control project anomalies.
The Corruption Allegations Unveiled
The scandal came to light following revelations from former Ako-Bicol partylist representative Elizalde "Zaldy" Co. After breaking his silence on the corruption surrounding government flood control projects, Co implicated both Pangandaman and Adrian Bersamin, the nephew of the Executive Secretary who heads the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office.
According to Co's account, both officials were aware of the P100 billion insertions that were allegedly ordered by President Marcos himself in the 2025 national budget. These massive insertions are at the heart of the ongoing investigation into fund mismanagement and irregularities.
Immediate Government Reshuffle
In response to the resignations, President Marcos swiftly moved to fill the vacant positions to ensure the continuity of government operations. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has been appointed as the new Executive Secretary.
To replace Recto at the Finance department, the President named Frederick Go, who previously served as the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs. Furthermore, DBM Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo has been assigned as the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Budget and Management, taking over Pangandaman's responsibilities.
This major reorganization marks one of the most significant challenges for the Marcos administration, testing its commitment to transparency and accountability in public service.
