Former Secretary Lucas Bersamin. The Palace says you resigned “out of delicadeza.” The same delicadeza that apparently skips over presidents.

You said, “I did not resign. I was told to go.” Already, we have two versions of the truth, and only one of them came from a man who used to be Chief Justice.

If anyone wants to know the real story behind the flood insertions, the budget acrobatics, the whisper campaigns, ask the guy they shoved out the back door while announcing he exited the front.

Look what the President did to you, Luke. Look closely. Does it look like a soft good-bye to you? You weren’t a clerk, sir. You were Little President. You ran the Palace while the President was busy being presidential in the abstract.

You know everything. If the President wanted something hidden in a drawer, you knew which drawer. If something sensitive needed to “walk away,” you knew the shoe it was in.

Lucas, you could write a book. A long one.

And let’s be honest. Betrayals hurt. Don’t act like you didn’t feel it. The beans you’re holding? They’re rattling like they’re raring to go out in the sun. They want to walk. Dance. They want to spill themselves on national television.

And then, suddenly, Recto appears in your chair. Ralph “Numbers Guy” Recto. A finance man. In the seat next to the President. During a budget scandal. Certainly. Why not put the best finance guy in the bank? Very normal.

Lucas, tell us: Are you surprised? Or did you smell the smoke before anybody saw the flames?

Because if this was a simple housekeeping matter, they’d replace you with certainly not a finance guy at the exact moment the budget is the hottest pot on the stove.

It’s either the worst choice in government history or the neatest little “keep him close” abracadabra you’ll see this decade.

If Recto truly knows nothing about the issues stirring around, then this is the most generous promotion ever awarded in this republic.

And then there’s Amenah. Private citizen Amenah Pangandaman. Who said she will still support the President “in her private capacity.”

The whole country is drowning in allegations, and citizen Amenah says she’ll support the President quietly? Quiet support is very suspicious, Amenah. Nobody supports quietly unless they’re worried their loud support will get the people’s attention that they really don’t want. Have you ever noticed people who know nothing always talk loudly?

Then and now, quiet is the loudest thing Amenah has ever done. You don’t go from Budget Queen to quiet nun overnight unless the room suddenly became full of questions you cannot answer.

If there’s nothing to hide, why do all the people who are expected to know something suddenly become “private citizens”? And if everything was clean, why not stay? Why not fight? Why not smile and say, “I love my job”?

Lucas, Amenah, whether you like it or not, you are now the most powerful people in Manila. Powerful because of memory. Memory is the one thing this Palace cannot fire.

So, Lucas. Stop pretending the blow didn’t bruise. Ask yourself why you were replaced by VAT Boy Ralph. Why is he suddenly in the room? Ask yourself why your exit required a story.

Ask yourself why your silence is more valuable now than your authority was last week. We’re all listening. And you, more than anyone, know exactly why.