MANILA — In a sharp rebuke of the official narrative surrounding his exit, former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin asserted on Wednesday that he never resigned from his post — and was in fact told he “had to go,” contradicting Malacañang’s earlier claim that he stepped down out of delicadeza.
In an interview with ABS-CBN’s Karen Davila, Bersamin said he received a phone call on Nov. 17 informing him to vacate his position, stressing that the instruction did not originate from the Palace.
“Someone called to tell me I had to go as the ES. The call was not from Malacañang,” he said.
Bersamin added that after receiving the order, he sent a text message to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. informing him that he was willing to leave — but insisted that no resignation letter was ever submitted.
“I informed the President that I had no problem exiting. By around 2 p.m., the Presidential Communications Office reportedly announced my resignation ‘out of delicadeza,’ but I did not submit any letter,” Bersamin said.
The former Executive Secretary also rejected speculation that he was involved in internal power plays or had orchestrated any scheme amid the widening flood control controversy.
He emphasized he was not the “mastermind of anything,” dismissing accusations made by former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who earlier alleged the existence of a “15% commitment” to the Office of the Executive Secretary involving P2.85 billion in flood control projects under unprogrammed funds.
Bersamin reiterated that his office had no role in the Department of Public Works and Highways’ budget allocations./PN
