EXECUTIVE Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Sunday denied rumors that he is set to resign or be replaced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Not true until it actually happens. I don’t know how the speculation started,” he told reporters when asked about circulating talks of a supposed shakeup in Malacañang.
The denial comes after Duterte supporter Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celis claimed during a program at Edsa Shrine that Bersamin would step down. Celis’s group then joined a rally organized by the United People’s Initiative (UPI) at the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
Speculation about a Cabinet revamp has been circulating, with reports suggesting that Finance Secretary Ralph Recto could replace Bersamin, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go could head the Department of Finance.
Bersamin has been the subject of resignation talks since issues arose regarding anomalous infrastructure and flood-control projects under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In September, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo named Bersamin among government officials allegedly receiving kickbacks from corruption-tainted flood control projects, allegations which Bersamin has denied. He stated that his office never had “dealings whatsoever” with either Bernardo or Olaivar and that the OES had no involvement in any way with budgetary allocations related to the DPWH.
