Castro: We respect Bersamin's sentiments, but 'resignation' announcement came from Palace

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Thursday maintained that the announcement on the ''resignation'' of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin came from Malacañang.

While Castro said that Malacañang respects the sentiments of Bersamin, she stressed that what she announced came from the Palace.

''Muli po, ang pina-announce po sa atin ay galing sa Palasyo at kung ano po ang nararamdaman ni ES Bersamin, 'yun din po, ginagalang po natin ang kanyang nararamdaman. Kung ano po ang sinabi po ng Palasyo, 'yun lang po ang ating inannounce,'' Castro said at a briefing. 

(Our announcement came from the Palace and whatever ES Bersamin feels, we respect it. We only announced what the Palace said.) 

She said that the announcement was issued in line with the understanding that Bersamin had submitted himself to the discretion of President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr.

''The Palace announcement was issued in line with this understanding and with due regard for stability and continuity in governance,'' Castro said.

Castro mentioned that Bersamin and the President had already talked. 

''At nagkausap naman po sila ng Pangulo face-to-face at let us just leave it at that,'' she said. 

(He and the President already talked and let us just leave it at that.)

Bersamin denial

On Wednesday, Bersamin denied that he resigned contrary to the statement of Castro that he had quit out of delicadeza after his name was dragged in the flood control projects controversy. 

He said he felt bad when the announcement was made. Bersamin, however, said he could not blame the Presidential Communications Office for it.

Bersamin was replaced by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, who took his oath before the President last Wednesday, November 19. 

Phone call

The former chief justice earlier disclosed that someone had called him on the morning of November 17, asking him to exit Malacañang.

Asked if she has information on this, Castro said she is not privy to this phone call.

''Wala po tayo, hindi po tayo privy sa kanilang usapan, kung sinuman po iyong sinasabi niyang kaibigan na nakausap niya. Wala po tayong kinalaman doon,'' Castro said. 

(We have no... we are not privy with this conversation on whom he talked to. We don't have any idea on that.)

Pressed on who wanted Bersamin out from the Marcos Cabinet, Castro said she could not say who is behind this. 

''Hindi ko po masasabi kung sino po ang nagpatanggal sa kaniya. Binanggit ko po kanina na hindi ko po alam kung sino ang kausap niya,'' she said.

(I cannot say who wanted him out. I mentioned earlier that I don't know who called him.)  — RSJ, GMA Integrated News