Camille Naredo

Article (news)

RESIGNATIONS

Ched Rick Gatchalian

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (3rd UPDATE) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignations of Lucas Bersamin as executive secretary and Amenah Pangandaman as secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Palace announced on Monday.Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned out of &quot;delicadeza,&quot; according to Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro, after their departments were linked to anomalous flood control projects.&quot;Both officials respectfully offered and tendered their resignations out of delicadeza after their departments were mentioned in allegations related to the flood control anomaly currently under investigation,&quot; Castro said.She stressed the two resigned officials are fulfilling their responsibility to help address the matter efficiently.Likewise, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Usec. Adrian Bersamin has also tendered his resignation as a Malacañang official due to the same reason.&quot;Delicadeza pa rin. Voluntary (resignation),&quot; Castro said, noting that the officer-in-charge replacing Adrian Bersamin will be announced soon.Asked why it took these officials time to pass resignation, Castro answered: &quot;Ngayon lang siguro sila kasi nakapag-isip isip ng kailangang gawin para sa gobyerno at para sa bayan.&quot;Bersamin&#x27;s resignation comes after days of speculation.Earlier on Monday, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/17/bersamin-on-reported-removal-as-executive-secretary-wait-for-official-announcement-1453">Bersamin sidestepped questions</a> on reports that he would soon be replaced as Marcos Jr.&#x27;s top Cabinet official.Talks of a Cabinet revamp surfaced after former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co accused Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin — a supposed relative of the executive secretary — of involvement in the siphoning of public funds through flood control projects.<div> </div><div>RECTO AS NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176338080331420240319-world-economic-forum-JC-8 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, PPA/Pool/File" width="960"/>Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, PPA/Pool/FileMeanwhile, Marcos appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as executive secretary, replacing Bersamin.</div>&quot;Secretary Recto&#x27;s long record in policy making, fiscal legislation, and national planning positions him well to oversee day-to-day operations of the government and coordinate the coordination of high impact program,&quot; Castro stated.&quot;I thank President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., for his trust and confidence. To be called to serve as Executive Secretary at this decisive moment is an honor matched only by its gravity,&quot; Recto said in a statement. &quot;My marching order is simple: Focus on governance. Monitor the performance of departments and maximize their outputs. For them not be distracted by political noise. Make sure that agencies are doing their job, and delivering their promises to the people. I see my role as taong bahay,&quot; he added.Recto said he intends to &quot;stay out of the limelight&quot; in order to perform his role effectively.&quot;I will not be angling for likes and shares and views. I would rather be a workhorse than a showhorse,&quot; said Recto, who also expressed his respect and admiration for Bersamin, calling him a &quot;mentor to all of us.&quot;Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go will succeed Recto at the finance department.Marcos said Go played a crucial role in advancing investments, strengthening investors&#x27; confidence in the country, and aligning economic initiatives across government agencies.&quot;I thank the President for his continuing trust and confidence,&quot; Go said in a statement. &quot;It is with a deep sense of responsibility that I take on this role. Recognizing the challenges and opportunities ahead, I am fully committed to promoting fiscal strength and sustainable economic growth for the country.&quot;&quot;I look forward to working closely with our partners in government, the private sector, and the international community to pursue shared prosperity and a brighter future for all Filipinos,&quot; he added.<div> </div><div>NEW OIC IN DBM</div>Meanwhile, Undersecretary Rolando Toledo will serve as the officer-in-charge of the DBM.&quot;OIC Toledo brings extensive technical expertise in national budgeting, fiscal transparency, and budget execution,&quot; the Palace Press Officer stated, adding that Toledo will help maintain operations as the government gears up the 2026 budget.Toledo later admitted that he was caught off guard by Pangandaman&#x27;s resignation and his appointment as the department&#x27;s OIC. He told reporters that he was only informed of the changes before Pangandaman left the Senate’s budget plenary deliberations on Monday to supposedly attend a meeting.&quot;I was surprised, actually. Nagulat ako. Nanginginig pa nga ako ngayon,&quot; Toledo said. &quot;I was told na ako daw ang pinadala niyang pangalan.&quot; Asked if he is ready to be OIC, Toledo said he was nervous but willing. &quot;Matagal na tayo sa government and with the DBM, I guess, yes, we will. Para sa bayan natin,&quot; Toledo said.Castro said these resignations and Cabinet movements reflect Marcos&#x27; &quot;commitment to strengthening institutions, improving coordination across government, and keeping the administration focused on delivering stability, opportunity, and security to Filipino families&quot;. <div> </div><div>&#x27;NOT ENOUGH&#x27;</div>The resignations of Pangandaman, Lucas Bersamin, and Adrian Bersamin are &quot;not enough,&quot; however, the Makabayan bloc said on Tuesday. &quot;They and their associates must be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,&quot; ACT Teachers Party List Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party List Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Party List Rep. Renee Co said in a joint statement.&quot;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&#x27;s revelations, are jumping ship is a clear admission of guilt and an attempt to shield the President from accountability,&quot; they added.The bloc says there must be a &quot;comprehensive investigation&quot; into Bersamin, Pangandaman, and their &quot;network of associates.&quot;-- with reports from Katrina Domingo and Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News<script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABrwlruZbhXMH8Ni"></script>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as executive secretary, replacing Lucas Bersamin.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as executive secretary, replacing Lucas Bersamin.

Bersamin, Pangandaman resign; Recto is new executive secretary

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Bersamin, Pangandaman resign; Recto is new executive secretary

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 17, 2025 05:22 PM PHT

|

Updated Nov 18, 2025 03:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Palace

Marcos Cabinet

Ralph Recto

Lucas Bersamin

Frederick Go

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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