Marcos Administration Rocked by Resignations of Top Cabinet Officials Amid Flood Control Scandal

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman resigned amid corruption allegations linked to flood control projects, following accusations from former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co, igniting a political crisis for President Marcos Jr.

Marcos Administration Rocked by Resignations of Top Cabinet Officials Amid Flood Control Scandal

By Bing Jabadan – TheNationWeek.Com | November 17, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – In a stunning development that threatens to engulf the Marcos administration, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman tendered their resignations on Monday, succumbing to mounting pressure from allegations of corruption linked to flood control projects.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted their resignations, triggering a high-stakes political crisis.

The move follows accusations by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who implicated officials in a multi-trillion peso kickback scheme involving “ghost projects” within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned “out of delicadeza” in the face of the burgeoning investigation.

However, the swift departure of two key figures suggests a deeper crisis within the administration.

The appointments of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as the new Executive Secretary and Budget Undersecretary Rolando Toledo as Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Budget and Management represent a significant and potentially desperate attempt to stabilize the government.

These resignations and subsequent appointments signal a major shakeup within the Marcos administration, casting a shadow over its commitment to transparency and good governance.

The ongoing investigation into the DPWH flood control projects promises to be a defining moment, potentially exposing the extent of corruption and testing the administration’s resolve to hold those responsible accountable.

This scandal raises serious questions about the integrity of public works projects and the potential for “kakitocracy,” where unqualified individuals benefit from political connections, and the possibility of “kleptocrats” enriching themselves at the public’s expense.