Bersamin, Pangandaman resign; Recto, Toledo in as executive secretary, budget OIC

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman have resigned from their posts, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro announced on Monday afternoon.

At a news briefing, Castro said Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has been appointed as the new executive secretary, while Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo has been named officer in charge of the Department of Budget and Management.

Castro said Secretary Frederick Go, the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, has been appointed Secretary of Finance to replace Recto.

The press officer said Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned voluntarily after their names were mentioned in the flood control projects controversy.

"President Marcos accepts the resignation of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman," Castro said.

Castro said both officials voluntarily stepped down from their posts out of "delicadeza" after they were implicated in the alleged anomalous flood management projects. Their resignation will also give way for the administration to investigate the issue properly, she added.

"To ensure continuity and enforce the administration's governance agenda, President Marcos has appointed Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as the new executive secretary,'' she said.  

"These leadership changes reinforce the President's commitment to strengthening institutions, improving coordination across government, and keeping the administration focused on delivering stability, opportunity, and security to Filipino families," Castro said.

"The Office of the President assures the public that all agencies will continue to operate without interruption and with the same commitment to effective governance and public service. Yan po ang anusyo sa araw na ito," she added.

Castro later told reporters that the President has also accepted the resignation of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, the Executive Secretary's nephew who was also mentioned in the flood control controversy.

“Delicadeza pa rin (Still delicadeza),” the Palace press officer said when asked about the reason for the younger Bersamin’s resignation.

“Ngayon lang siguro sila nakapag-isip-isip kung ano ang kailangang gawin para sa gobyerno at para sa bayan,” she added when asked why the Cabinet officials belatedly decided to turn in their voluntary resignations.

(Maybe it’s only now that they had time to think it over what they should do for the government and for the country.”

Zaldy Co, Antonio Bernardo

In a video posted on social media on Friday, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, the former chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said Pangandaman called him before the start of the bicameral committee conference on the 2025 budget about instructions to insert P100 billion in allocations.

Co also claimed that Pangandaman even said that he could confirm the instruction with the PLLO chief, who was present during their meeting with the President.

Pangandaman denied Co’s allegations, "All appropriations ordered by the President are already in the National Expenditure Program. That is why it is called the President’s Budget. So we reject any insinuations about it."

In September, Bersamin was dragged in the ongoing probe on anomalous flood control projects.

This was after former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that there was a 15% commitment to the Office of the Executive Secretary related to P2.85 billion worth of projects that would utilize unprogrammed funds in the national budget.

Bersamin denied the commission and his office's role in the projects.

Initial denials

Recto earlier denied rumors he was poised to become the next executive secretary, saying there had been no offer for him to assume the post. He also said he was unaware of any potential revamp in the Cabinet.

“There is no offer. There’s nothing to accept,” he told members of the media when asked if he would take the position should an offer arise.

“I remain as DOF… I’m here as Secretary of DOF,” he added.

Bersamin over the weekend dispelled rumors that he would quit his post or be replaced by the President.

Speculation about Bersamin’s supposed exit coincided with the Iglesia ni Cristo’s three-day rally calling for accountability amid alleged corruption in government projects.

Talk of a Cabinet shakeup first circulated online on Saturday, suggesting Bersamin would be replaced by Recto, and that Recto in turn would be succeeded by Go. –NB/JMA, GMA Integrated News