Malacañang said Education Secretary Sonny Angara does not need to resign “if he thinks he is clean,” following the resignations of two Cabinet officials linked to alleged budget anomalies.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman stepped down “out of delicadeza” after former House Appropriations Committee chair Zaldy Co accused them of meddling with the 2025 national budget to insert projects allegedly generating kickbacks.
Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo also named Angara among former lawmakers who supposedly profited from ghost or substandard flood control projects.
“Kung ang paniwala naman po ni Secretary Angara ay siya’y malinis at walang dapat na ikabahala ay hindi niya kailangang mag-submit ng resignation,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Palace reporters.
She added that Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned voluntarily to allow investigation, while Angara has not offered to step down. Angara has denied the corruption allegations, saying he has “never been involved in corruption” during his 21 years in government service.