Marcos says no bad blood after Bersamin, Pangandaman resign

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. affirmed there is "no bad blood" following the exit of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman from the Cabinet.

Marcos stated that he has spoken with Bersamin and they understand each other, emphasizing their parting was amicable.

Bersamin had previously disputed Malacañang's statement that he resigned out of a sense of propriety, saying he was asked to step down.

Both Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned on November 17 after their names were implicated in a corruption investigation involving budget insertions for questionable flood projects.

President Marcos explained that Pangandaman's resignation was to remove potential influence over the budget process.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto was appointed as Bersamin's replacement as executive secretary, and Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo is the officer-in-charge of the Department of Budget and Management.