During the Press Con, Journalists Pressed On To Malacañang’s Claire Castro Quests on Lucas Bersamin’s Resignation
JOURNALIST – A member of the media reacted to the “pabayaan” remark of Malacañang press officer Claire Castro over the resignation of Bersamin.
When Zaldy Co accused President Bongbong Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez of alleged budget insertion, several other names were mentioned by the resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Representative. He mentioned then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
Bersamin was one of the officials who were retained when Marcos Jr. previously ordered a courtesy resignation of all of his Cabinet members following the May 2025 Midterm Elections. According to Co, he allegedly confirmed the supposed order to insert P100 billion in the 2025 national budget with the then Executive Secretary.
Last November 17, Malacañang announced that Lucas Bersamin and former Budget Sec. Amenah Pangandaman have resigned from their positions. According to Palace press officer undersecretary Claire Castro, they resigned out of delicadeza.
However, recently, former Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin claimed that he allegedly did not resign. According to him, he has supposedly not tendered any resignation letter when the Palace announced his resignation.
Bersamin claimed that he allegedly received a phone call earlier last November 17 telling him that he needs to leave his position. According to the former E.S., the call was not from Malacañang and he informed Marcos Jr. that he is ready to exit. It was followed by the Palace announcing his resignation.
Recently, during a press conference, a journalist pressed on in asking Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro about the resignation of former Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin. Based on a post of The Mailbox on social media, she asked about the real reason why Bersamin was allegedly fired.
“Muli binanggit na po natin ang ating sagot at sila’y nagkausap na po. At sinabi nga po natin, pabayaan na po natin at sila naman po ay nagkausap na,” the Palace official responded.
The journalist did not accept the response of the Malacañang official to just let things be. Based on the post, she asserted that the money of the people is used in paying for the government officials’ services and the Filipinos are asking for the truth.
“Ma’am sorry, hindi namin pwede pabayaan because the taxpayers who are funding the government and are actually paying the salaries of this administration is actually asking for truth from the Palace. Bakit po natanggal ‘yung Executive Secretary at sino po ‘yung nagpatanggal sa kanya?” the journalist said.
While the journalist insisted, Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro claimed that she has no idea who Lucas Bersamin was talking to over the phone. According to her, the former Executive Secretary submitted himself to the prerogative of the President.
Despite the issues surrounding his resignation, former Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin believes that it is allegedly “safer” for the Philippines to stay under Marcos Jr. than have Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as the chief.