Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. The officials stepped down as their departments are under investigation for alleged anomalies in flood control projects, Malaca±ang announced.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that both officials resigned ‘out of delicadeza,’ acknowledging the need for the administration to handle the investigations appropriately. The President has appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as the new Executive Secretary, while Frederick Go, the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, has been named the new Finance Secretary.
Castro emphasized Recto’s extensive experience in economic policymaking and fiscal legislation, which prepares him to manage government operations and implement high-impact programs. Go, recognized for his role in promoting investments and enhancing investor confidence, will now lead the finance sector.
Undersecretary Rolando Toledo, who heads the Budget Preparation and Execution Group, will serve as the officer in charge of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Castro highlighted Toledo’s technical expertise in national budgeting and fiscal transparency, crucial as the government prepares for the 2026 national budget and continues disaster-recovery funding.
President Marcos expressed gratitude to Bersamin for his leadership at the Office of the Executive Secretary and to Pangandaman for her contributions to fiscal management and the passage of national budgets. The leadership changes aim to reinforce the administration’s focus on stability, opportunity, and security for Filipino families.
Castro reassured the public that government operations would proceed without interruption and clarified that Bersamin and Pangandaman’s voluntary resignations do not exempt them from accountability. Should the investigations find them liable, they will be held accountable, whether they are private citizens or public officers.
