Former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin bared he did not resign from his post on Monday, Nov. 17, contrary to the announcement made by Malacañang on the same day.

In a phone interview with the Malacañan Press Corp on Wednesday, Bersamin disclosed that he only signed a letter about his position on Tuesday afternoon, about a day after his supposed resignation "out of delicadeza" was announced.

"Wala akong resignation na finile. Kasi ang lumabas na sinabi, nabasa ko na lang na I resigned out of delicadeza. Masarap pakinggan ang out of delicadeza. Pero hindi naman totoo 'yan, hindi ako nag-resign (I did not file a resignation. Because from what I have read, they said I resigned out of delicadeza. 'Out of delicadeza’ sounds nice. But that’s not true, I did not resign)," Bersamin clarified.

"The only letter I sent regarding my position na wala na (that I left) was that letter I signed yesterday late afternoon na sinabi ko (where I said that) I bow to the prerogative of the President. You submit to the prerogative of the President to replace me kasi (because) that is the nature of my tenure, e, at the pleasure of the President," Bersamin added.

The former executive secretary also bared that a "close friend" had called him up on Monday before noon, telling him he needs to "leave."

He said he did not react to it negatively as he understands the nature of his job.

"Somebody, a close friend of mine na, at least as far as I know, called me up mga siguro before 12:00 to tell me na I am to go, to leave as Executive Secretary, exit na ako (I was to exit)," Bersamin said.

"So sabi ko walang problema 'yan (I said there is no problem with that). I will accept that because I am only serving at the pleasure of the President," he stressed.

The former Palace official also understood that he did not have to know the reason behind the decision to replace him, saying "if it's prerogative, the President does not need a reason."

He further said that "you don't need to be exact about it, when I am told that I have to exit as executive secretary, you don't need to tell me that message," adding that "ganoon talaga (that's just how it is)."

"I've been in government for so long, 34 years in judiciary and 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," Bersamin said.

Palace Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro announced on Monday afternoon that Bersamin has stepped down from his post out of delicadeza after his office was linked to the flood control anomalies. He was replaced by Finance Secretary Ralph Recto.

Bersamin also bared that he had met the President on Monday night, hours after the announcement of his resignation was made.

He did not divulge any information about their conversation as he believes that it was still "covered by the technical protection of confidentiality."

The former executive secretary only stated that his talk with the President, which took about 30 minutes, was casual and genial.

"After na, evening of Monday, nag-usap kami. Wala, those matters are between him and me, as of that time, although in-announce na nag-resign ako, at tinanggap na, at in-appoint, in-announce na yung sumunod skin (We talked evening of Monday. Those matters are between hi and me because as of that time, although it was already announced that I resigned and my successor has been designated), I was still technically speaking on holdover. So covered pa rin by the technical protection of confidentiality. I will not discuss that with you," Bersamin said.

"When you talk with an intelligent person like him. 30 minutes is very long. And I think 30 minutes 'yan, very social, genial. Alam mo ang President, he's a very well-educated na tao 'yan. Matalino 'yan. Di naman mahirap paliwanagan 'yan ((You know the President, he's a very well-educated person. He's intelligent. It's not hard to explain to him)," Bersamin added.

Bersamin admitted that there was a bit of disappointment on his part for not being consulted first before the announcement was made.

"May disappointment, but hindi sama ng loob yun, e (There is a bit of disappointment, but it's not resentment)," Bersamin said.

"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. So I know that. I have the experience)," he stressed.

"Ang akin lang (My point is) when they make an announcement about my personal—did I resign or not— they should have consulted me first, courtesy 'yan 'di ba (that's courtesy right)," he further said.

Bersamin also said he no longer intends to know why he was the last one to know about his own resignation as he believes that the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) had their own basis. He only wanted to dispute what was earlier announced.

"I felt bad somehow but I am not going to waste time worrying...or the way they did it because maybe they were also under instruction or given the impression na mayroon akong (that I filed a) resignation," he said.

"I cannot blame them for that. I just would like to correct yung impression na nag-resign ako (the impression that I resigned). I never did resign.

Bersamin also denied his alleged involvement in the budget insertion, stressing that the Office of the Executive Secretary does not have anything to do with insertions in the budget and meddling with other agencies' budget is beyond their capacity.

He said there is no need for him to undergo inquiry in the Senate for allegations that he was the mastermind in the alleged budget insertions.

It would be better if they just file a case against him, which he would answer properly rather than responding to hearsay sans evidence.

"Wag na sa Senate dahil alam ko roon (Not in the Senate because I know), there is nothing that I can say there na hindi...If ever they want to charge me as the mastermind, whatever case they want to file, they file it. Ayaw ko na magsira-sira mga buhay ng tao at papasinungalingan ko 'yan. Wala naman akong papasinungalingan pa (I don’t want to ruin people’s lives anymore and then have to call them liars. I have nothing left that I need to deny)," Bersamin said.

"Hindi ko na kailangan ipaliwanag pa yan dahil wala talaga akong kinalaman tungkol sa budget. Kung mayroon mga tao na gusto akong i-implicate dyan, itigil n'yo na 'yan, i-demanda nyo na lang ako para sagutin ko ng tama. Kasi right now puro innuendo, puro mga pasaring (I don’t need to explain that anymore because I really had nothing to do with the budget. If there are people who want to implicate me in that, stop it — just file a case against me so I can answer it properly. Because right now it’s all innuendo, all insinuations)," Bersamin stressed.

Bersamin also defended former presidential legislative liaison office chief Adrian Bersamin, his grandnephew, who was also being implicated in the budget insertion, saying that "you cannot expect him to do anything na hindi tugma sa nakakataas sa kanya (that is not aligned to his superior)."