Philippines: 2 Marcos Cabinet members resign over ghost flood control projects

Manila: Two members of the Cabinet resigned after their names were dragged in the midnight budget insertions and ghost flood control projects mess, the presidential palace confirmed on Monday.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has accepted the resignation of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced on Monday.

Their resignations were out of “delicadeza” amid the ongoing investigation into anomalous flood control projects in the country, according to the Claire Castro, the president's spokesperson.

The names of Pangandaman and Bersamin were mentioned by Elizaldy "Zaldy" Co, ex-congressman and House Appropriations Chair, who also blamed Marcos Jr and House Speaker Martin Romualdez over the midnight budget insertions.

Co posted on social media his version of the story surrounding the controversial budget insertions and scam projects.

Co, who is currently out of the country, said he has no plans to fly home, citing "threats" to his life.

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto was named as the new executive secretary, while Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go was tapped to be the next chief of the Department of Finance.

Undersecretary Rolando Toledo of the Department of Budget and Management was named officer-in-charge of the agency.