Malacañang on Thursday downplayed talk of internal corruption probes, calling recent Cabinet changes part of a routine performance review, a claim that stood in stark contrast to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin  Remulla’s confirmation of several high-ranking officials being under investigation for alleged money laundering linked to infrastructure funds.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had merely been assessing the Cabinet’s performance — a “usual and regular” process — which resulted in the exits of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. 

Both had been publicly linked to alleged anomalies in anomalous flood control projects.

“I can’t say that everyone is under investigation. Maybe the President was just doing a performance review,” Castro told reporters. There was “no need to investigate” Cabinet members whose names were not raised in the controversy, she added.

Bersamin earlier denied resigning or having a role in suspected budget irregularities, contradicting Malacañang’s initial announcement that he had voluntarily stepped down. 

His name surfaced in a Senate plenary session where Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson alleged that Bersamin would “take care” of P52 billion in budget insertions, citing information from former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo.

Pangandaman likewise insisted she had worked with “sincerity and determination” to protect the public funds.

In contrast to Malacañang’s assurance that no probe was underway, Remulla confirmed that three recently resigned undersecretaries were being investigated by his office for money laundering based on Bernardo’s testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Under investigation are former Office of the Executive Secretary Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar, and Bernardo himself. 

Remulla said Bernardo described an unusual cash transfer system involving armored vans moving funds intended for DPWH projects.

“Bersamin, Olaivar and Bernardo were working together in practically laundering money,” Remulla said. “They didn’t have a right to that money. It was meant for public works, meant to be paid to contractors for work done.”

The alleged scheme formed part of a larger inquiry into flood control allocations and infrastructure spending irregularities.

President Marcos briefly addressed the reshuffle during the Bagong Bayani Awards 2025, joking that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos might soon be part of the changes as she increasingly appears at government activities, especially programs for overseas Filipino workers in Europe.

“She has become our ambassador for migrant workers,” Marcos said, drawing laughter. “Aren’t we having a Cabinet shakeup? So you’re included in that.”

The President’s joke was made amid serious shifts in top government posts. After Bersamin and Pangandaman vacated their respective posts, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto took over as Executive Secretary, while Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo replaced Pangandaman.