President Bongbong Marcos responded to questions regarding the resignation of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday, November 24.
During a press conference with the Malacañang Press Corps (MPC) at the Presidential Broadcast Studio (PBS) in Kalayaan Hall, Malacañang Palace, the President was asked why the Palace allowed the two officials to step down.
Marcos said he had already spoken with Bersamin, while Pangandaman was removed from her post.
“Nag-usap na kami. We understand each other and we decided to keep it between ourselves. There’s no bad blood, there is no acrimonious feeling,” he said.
He further explained, “Si Sec. Mina because her name was dragged into the whole thing, it makes it clear that whatever is going on, kung anuman ang mga kwestiyunin, kung anuman ang mangyayari, we want to be sure that she’s not in a position where she might be suspected of influencing all that. Kasi when she’s out of government wala na siyang impluwensya. So, hindi mo naman masasabi na inayos niya yung kaso niya.”
The Palace previously stated that both officials resigned “out of delicadeza.”
“Both officials respectfully offered and tendered their resignations out of delicadeza,” said Palace spokesperson Castro on November 17.
Their resignations followed the initial statement by former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co in a video released on November 14, where he alleged that PBBM ordered a ₱100-billion insertion in the 2025 national budget.
Co also mentioned Pangandaman and Bersamin’s grandnephew, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.