Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman have resigned to allow an investigation into corruption allegations in flood control projects. President Marcos accepted their resignations, leading to immediate replacements in key positions. The move follows claims by former lawmaker Zaldy Co regarding irregular budget insertions.
Amid a corruption scandal in flood control projects, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman resigned to allow for an investigation, according to Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro. “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,” Castro said during a press briefing on November 17, 2025.
Adrian Bersamin, son of Lucas Bersamin's nephew, also resigned from his post as chief of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto replaces Bersamin as Executive Secretary, while Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo serves as officer-in-charge for Pangandaman. Special Assistant to the President Frederick Go will succeed Recto as Finance Secretary.
The resignations followed allegations by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co that Marcos directed him to insert P100 billion in projects into the 2025 national budget, linked to kickbacks from questionable flood control structures. Co claimed Pangandaman, the younger Bersamin, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez had direct knowledge of the insertions. Malacañang dismissed the accusations as “hearsay,” but Castro acknowledged Co's statements may have prompted the officials to step down.
“We cannot say that the allegations of Zaldy Co are serious... But whatever he said, they may have provided the reasons for our two brave secretaries to resign voluntarily,” Castro said. She assured that the former officials are not off the hook from the probe, with no exemptions for anyone. Castro also praised Bersamin and Pangandaman for their contributions to the administration.
Recto, surprised by his appointment, described his new role as focused on improving government operations. Toledo and Go expressed their commitment to continuing smooth operations. This marks the second major shake-up in the Marcos administration this year.