Former Executive Secretary Denies Voluntary Resignation
Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has publicly denied that he voluntarily resigned from his position, contradicting official statements from the Presidential Communications Office. The controversy emerged on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, when Bersamin revealed in a television interview that he never formally resigned despite announcements suggesting otherwise.
Bersamin stated that someone outside Malacañang contacted him on November 17, informing him that he "had to go" as Executive Secretary. He immediately informed President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. via text message that he had no problem exiting his position. However, by 2 p.m. that same day, the Presidential Communications Office had already announced his resignation "out of delicadeza," even though Bersamin confirmed he had not submitted any resignation letter at that time.
The Final Office Visit and Transition
According to Bersamin's account, he visited the Office of the Executive Secretary last Tuesday primarily to retrieve his personal belongings and documents. He also intended to begin a proper transition process with his successor. Before departing for home, he signed a letter expressing his submission to the President's prerogative and instructed his staff to deliver it to the Office of the Appointments Secretary.
Bersamin emphasized that this visit marked the last time he would enter that office, effectively ending his tenure without having initiated the resignation process himself.
Corruption Allegations and Budget Insertions
The political storm began when Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Attorney Claire Castro announced on Monday, November 17, that President Marcos had accepted the "voluntary resignation" of both Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. This decision followed serious corruption allegations involving their offices in flood control project anomalies.
Ako-Bicol party-list representative Elizalde "Zaldy" Co claimed there was corruption in government flood control projects, implicating Pangandaman and Bersamin's nephew, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, who heads the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. Co alleged that President Marcos ordered him, through the younger Bersamin and Pangandaman, to insert a massive P100 billion budget allocation into the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
Denials and Counteraccusations
The former Malacañang official strongly denied any involvement in budget insertions, particularly responding to claims made by retired Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. Bernardo had stated that he took responsibility for P52 billion insertions in the 2025 GAA.
"I vehemently deny the imputation against me that I said anything to former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, such as 'we will take care of it,' regarding the supposed facilitation of the P52 billion insertions," Bersamin declared during his interview.
He further questioned Bernardo's credibility, stating that "Bernardo could not be a credible source of relevant information if his knowledge looks and sounds like at least triple hearsay."
Adding to the controversy, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson accused the younger Bersamin and Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar of "misrepresenting" the President. Lacson claimed they made it appear to Representative Co that the P100 billion insertions in the 2025 budget were specifically ordered by President Marcos.
Political Fallout Continues
The situation has created significant political tension within the administration, with conflicting narratives emerging about the circumstances surrounding Bersamin's departure and the budget insertion allegations. The discrepancy between Bersamin's account of being told to leave and the official narrative of voluntary resignation raises questions about transparency within the government.
The scandal involves substantial public funds, with allegations totaling P152 billion in questionable budget insertions between the P100 billion mentioned by Representative Co and the P52 billion acknowledged by former DPWH Undersecretary Bernardo.
As investigations continue, the Philippine public awaits further clarification about the flood control project anomalies and the exact sequence of events that led to the departure of two key government officials amid these serious corruption allegations.
