Malacañang clarified Tuesday that Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman stepped down of their own accord, not due to pressure, and that both continue to enjoy President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s trust.
“Kusang loob… kasi may tiwala naman po ang Pangulo sa kanila,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a DZBB interview. She added that the President “does not believe in the made-up stories of Zaldy Co,” referring to former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co.
Castro said the Palace would support any investigation should the Independent Commission for Infrastructure pursue a probe into the former officials. “Ok lang po… handa naman si Sec. Mina at si ES Bersamin pagdating po diyan,” she noted.
The two resigned Monday after Co linked them to issues surrounding the 2025 national budget. Pangandaman earlier denied Co’s claim of a PHP100-million insertion request, reiterating that “all appropriations ordered by the President are already in the National Expenditure Program.”