Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin disputed the announcement that he resigned with Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman out of delicadeza on Nov. 17.

He said a '' close friend'' whom he did not name told him he was supposed to vacate his post without any explanation hours before the announcement on Monday.

"I am aware of the nature of serving at the pleasure of the President because I have been the executor of all instructions to remove some people, replace them, etc. ," Bersamin said partly in Filipino in a phone interview with Palace reporters last Wednesday.

"My only concern is when they make an announcement about me personally—did I resign or not—they should have consulted me first, that's courtesy, right?" he added.

Bersamin said he was able to talk to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday evening, but he did not reveal the content.

Citing information from former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson claimed Bersamin helped in facilitating the collection of P52 billion worth of kickbacks from the 2025 budget by his grandnephew, former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and former Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar.

Lacson claimed the amount came from the P100 billion worth of projects, which was inserted in the bicameral version of the 2025 national budget, which was revealed by former Ako Bicol Party list Rep. Elizaldy Co.

Co alleged that the insertions were ordered by Marcos, but Lacson said it was done by the younger Bersamin and Olaivar.

Bersamin has denied that the Office of the President intervened in the bicameral conference deliberations on the 2025 national budget and that he has any interactions with Bernardo and Olaivar.

Bersamin, a former chief justice, said he is willing to face the allegations not in the Senate, but before the courts.

"If ever they want to charge me as the mastermind, whatever case they want to file, they [should just] file it," he said.

"These things, allegations like this should ultimately be established in court," he added. DMS