Retired Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin has been appointed as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s new executive secretary, the Malacañang confirmed on Tuesday.

 

Press Secretary Trixie Angeles-Cruz said Bersamin had already taken his oath before Marcos.

 

She added: “He began his duties immediately by attending the 9th cabinet meeting right after swearing in.”

 

Bersamin has taken over the ES post after Vic Rodriguez, long-time spokesperson of Marcos, quit earlier this month. Rodriguez stayed in the Marcos administration as Presidential Chief of Staff.

 

Bersamin, prior to becoming executive secretary, sat as chairman of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) after being appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2020.

 

Duterte appointed Bersamin as chief justice in November 2018 until his mandatory retirement in October 2019.

 

During his stint at the high court, Bersamin voted in favor of the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. — and father of the incumbent president —at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and he also voted for the continued detention of opposition Senator Leila De Lima.

 

The former chief justice graduated from the University of the East in 1973. In the same year, he placed 9th in the Bar examinations.