Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin asserted that he does not need to undergo a Senate investigation regarding allegations linking him to supposed budget insertions.
He emphasized that the Office of the Executive Secretary has no involvement in any budget insertions, adding that meddling with the funds of other agencies is beyond its mandate.
Bersamin further stated that it would be better for critics to file a case against him—one he said he would answer properly—rather than rely on “hearsay” without proof or concrete evidence.
“`Wag na sa Senate dahil alam ko roon, there is nothing that I can say there na hindi… if ever they want to charge me as the mastermind, whatever case they want to file, they file it,” Bersamin said in a phone interview with reporters.
“Hindi ko na kailangang ipaliwanag pa ‘yan dahil wala talaga akong kinalaman tungkol sa budget. Kung mayroon mga tao na gusto akong i-implicate diyan, itigil nyo na yan, idemanda n`yo na lang ako para sagutin ko nang tama. Kasi right now puro innuendo, puro mga pasaring,” he added.
Bersamin resigned as Executive Secretary after his grandnephew, former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman were implicated in questionable budget insertions in the 2025 national budget.
He has since been replaced by former Senator and former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.