Malacañang Palace announced Monday the resignations of executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
As both the offices of Bersamin and Pangandaman are mentioned in allegations related to the raging flood control controversy, Castro said the two “respectfully offered and tendered their resignations” to “allow the administration to address the matter appropriately.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted their resignations, the palace spokesperson said.
Former House of Representatives (HOR) appropriations committee chief Elizalde Co revealed in three videos that Bersamin and Pangandaman ordered the insertion of P100 billion worth of funds in the 2024 national budget.
The orders, through the two Cabinet officials and former HOR Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez , actually came from Marcos Jr. himself, Co said.
Malacanang has repeatedly denied Co’s revelations.
Castro also announced in a last minute press briefing that finance secretary Ralph Recto has been appointed as new executive secretary who in turn will be succeeded by presidential assistant for investment and economic affairs Frederick Go
Meanwhile, budget undersecretary Rolando Toledo will serve as officer-in-charge of the Department of Budget and Management.
But the Makabayan Coalition said Bersamin and Pangandaman’s resignations are not enough, saying the two officials and associates in the corruption scandal must face investigation and prosecution.
President Marcos himself must be investigated, the coalition said.
“These resignations tell us that President Marcos himself is feeling the heat from the corruption scandals plaguing his administration. The fact that his most trusted officials after former Cong. Zaldy Co’s revelations, are jumping ship is a clear admission of guilt and an attempt to shield the President from accountability,” it said.
Comprehensive investigations must include Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Usec. Adrian Bersamin, Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar; Department of Justice Undersecretary Jose Cadiz Jr., and all others involved in these anomalous transactions. No one should be spared from scrutiny, Makabayan said.
“Most importantly, the probe must now include President Marcos Jr. himself. If his Executive Secretary is deeply involved in corruption, how can the President claim ignorance?” the group asked.
As executive secretary, Bersamin is regarded as the alter ego of the President whose involvement in the controversy Marcos Jr., Makabayan added.
“It is no longer tenable for the President to maintain that he knows nothing and has nothing to account for when the core members of his cabinet are implicated as key players in the corruption scandal. It is time to come clean and admit accountability,” the coalition of progressive partylists said.
Makabayan further said it will not allow the resignations to be used as a smokescreen to protect the real culprits.
“Justice must be served, and accountability must reach the highest levels of government,” it said.
“We call on all institutions—Congress, the Ombudsman, and law enforcement agencies—to pursue this investigation without fear or favor. The culture of impunity in the Marcos administration must end,” Makabayan said. # (Raymund B.Villanueva)
