Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin denied reports on Wednesday that he had resigned from the post, stating that Malacañang’s announcement that he stepped down “out of delicadeza” was inaccurate.
In a phone interview with reporters, Bersamin expressed surprise at the Palace narrative.
“I don’t know how this started — that I resigned. Maybe it was announced, but I never actually filed a resignation,” he said in Filipino.
“It’s flattering to hear it was ‘out of delicadeza,’ but it’s not true. I did not resign,” he stressed.
Bersamin made the clarification after Malacañang said he had stepped down voluntarily.
He said the only written communication he submitted was a letter acknowledging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s prerogative to replace him.
“I did not resign. The only letter I sent regarding my position was the letter I signed late yesterday afternoon where I said ‘I bow to the prerogative of the President.’ That is the nature of my tenure — at the pleasure of the President,” he said.
‘I accept decision’
Bersamin recounted that a close friend had notified him that he was being replaced.
“I said, ‘No problem, I will accept that because I am only serving at the pleasure of the President,’” he said.
Asked if he had sought an explanation for his removal, Bersamin replied: “I didn’t ask. I know that if it’s a prerogative, the President does not need a reason.”
Bersamin confirmed that he spoke with the President on Monday evening, after the Palace publicly announced his resignation and the appointment of his successor. He declined, however, to discuss the details of their conversation.
“Those matters are between him and me,” Bersamin said, noting that he was still “technically on holdover” at the time, bound by confidentiality.
The former Chief Justice reflected on his long years in the government service.
“Thirty-four years in the judiciary, nearly three years in GSIS, and this one — over three years. So I could understand quickly the impact. When you serve at the pleasure of the President, no reason is necessary,” he said.
Messaging mismatch
Pressed on Palace Press Officer Claire Castro’s claim that he had resigned “out of delicadeza” (propriety), Bersamin said he could not explain the inconsistency.
“I do not know; you ask them. Without consulting me, the messaging should have been clear,” he said.
Bersamin admitted feeling “bad somehow” about how the transition was publicly framed but he refrained from blaming Palace staff.
“I felt bad somehow, but I am not going to waste time worrying about the new ones (staff) or the way they did it because maybe they were also under instructions or given the impression that I had a resignation,” he said.
“I cannot blame them for that. I just would like to correct the impression that I resigned. I never did resign,” he added.
Bersamin stressed that he harbored no resentment about being replaced, saying that he fully understands the nature of serving “at the pleasure of the President.”
“There’s disappointment, but that’s not a bad feeling. Because you do not expect that you can be out of the office so quickly… but I am aware of the nature of serving at the pleasure of the President,” he said, noting that during his tenure he had also carried out instructions to remove or replace other officials.
“I had the experience. So anyway, I won’t be offended by that, and I’m not disappointed,” he said.
Insertions not part of job
What Bersamin took issue with, however, was how the announcement about his departure was handled.
“For me, when they made an announcement about my personal situation — like did I resign or not — they should have consulted me first. That’s courtesy, right? Don’t announce it when you’re the last to be told,” he said.
He said the lack of prior notice made it difficult to respond to questions from colleagues and the public.
Meanwhile, Bersamin dismissed allegations linking him to a supposed P52-billion budget insertion.
“The Office of the Executive Secretary does not have anything to do with insertions or the budget,” he said. “Our own budget is what we submit, but we have nothing to do with the budget of other agencies. We don’t do that. It is not part of our job.”