Courtesy of Presidential Communications Office
Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Wednesday asserted that he was pushed out of his post rather than voluntarily resigning, as he flatly denied accusations that he intervened in an alleged P52-billion facilitation involving the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a statement, Bersamin said he was informed by an unnamed caller on Monday morning that he “had to go” as executive secretary.
He stressed that the call did not come from Malacañang, but confirmed that he then texted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he “had no problem exiting.”
Later in the same day, Malacañang announced the resignation of Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman “out of delicadeza,” over their alleged links to the flood control project scandal.
Before leaving his office on Tuesday, Bersamin said he signed a letter expressing his submission to the President’s prerogative to replace him and instructed his staff to deliver it to the Office of the Appointments Secretary.
“I left, deciding that that would be the last time I would step into that office,” Bersamin said.
