Lucas Bersamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lucas Bersamin
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Official Portrait, 2020
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| 40th Executive Secretary of the Philippines | |
| Assumed office September 27, 2022 |
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| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Vic Rodriguez |
| 25th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office November 26, 2018 – October 18, 2019 |
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| Appointed by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Teresita de Castro |
| Succeeded by | Diosdado Peralta |
| 163rd Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines | |
| In office April 3, 2009 – November 28, 2018 |
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| Appointed by | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Adolfo Azcuna |
| Succeeded by | Henri Jean Paul Inting |
| Chairman of the Government Service Insurance System | |
| In office February 6, 2020 – September 27, 2022 |
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| Appointed by | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jesus Clint Aranas Rolando Macasaet (OIC) |
| Succeeded by | Jose Arnulfo Veloso (Acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 18, 1949 Bangued, Abra, Philippines |
| Spouse | Aurora Bagares |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of the Philippines (BA) University of the East (LL.B.) |
| Affiliation | Scintilla Juris Fraternity |
Lucas Purugganan "Luke" Bersamin (born October 18, 1949) is a Filipino lawyer and important government official. He has been the 40th Executive Secretary of the Philippines since 2022. This role is like being the President's chief of staff.
Before this, he was the 25th Chief Justice of the Philippines from 2018 to 2019. He also served as an Associate Justice from 2009 to 2018. This means he was a judge in the highest court of the country.
Mr. Bersamin studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the University of the East College of Law. He started his career in the justice system in 1986 as a judge in Quezon City. Later, he became a judge in the Court of Appeals and then the Supreme Court.
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Early Life and Education
Lucas Bersamin was born on October 18, 1949. He grew up in Bangued, Abra, Philippines. He was a very good student from a young age.
School Days
He finished elementary school as the top student (valedictorian) at Colegio del Sagrado Corazon in Bangued in 1961. He then completed his high school education at Saint Joseph Seminary, also in Bangued, in 1965.
College and Law School
Mr. Bersamin earned his college degree in political science from the University of the Philippines Diliman in 1968. He then went on to study law at the University of the East College of Law, graduating in 1973. He did very well on the Bar Examinations, which lawyers must pass to practice law. He placed 9th in the country.
Career in Public Service
Lucas Bersamin has had a long and important career in the Philippine government. He has held several high-ranking positions.
Teaching Law
Before becoming a judge, Mr. Bersamin worked as a private lawyer from 1974 to 1986. He also shared his knowledge by teaching law at several universities. These included the Ateneo de Manila Law School and the University of the East College of Law. He also taught at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law. He continues to give lectures for the Philippine Judicial Academy, which trains judges.
Becoming a Judge
In 1986, President Corazon Aquino appointed him as a trial court judge in Quezon City. This was his first step into the judiciary. In March 2003, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed him to the Court of Appeals. This court reviews decisions made by lower courts.
In April 2009, President Arroyo again promoted him. He became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. This is the highest court in the country.
Chief Justice of the Philippines
In 2018, Mr. Bersamin was involved in a legal case that led to a change in the Chief Justice position. On November 26, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him as the new Chief Justice of the Philippines. He served in this top judicial role until October 2019.
Leading GSIS
After leaving the Supreme Court, Mr. Bersamin continued his public service. On February 6, 2020, President Duterte appointed him as the chairperson of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS). The GSIS helps government employees with their insurance and retirement benefits. He served in this role until September 2022.
Executive Secretary Role
On September 27, 2022, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Lucas Bersamin as his Executive Secretary. This is a very powerful position. The Executive Secretary manages the President's office and helps oversee all government departments.
In May 2025, after the midterm elections, President Marcos asked his cabinet members to offer their resignations. Mr. Bersamin did so, but President Marcos decided to keep him in his position.
Family Life
Lucas Bersamin is married to Aurora A. Bagares. She is a businesswoman. They have three children together: Pia Cristina, Luis Isidro, and Lucas Riel Jr.
He also has two brothers who were involved in politics. One brother, Luis "Chito" Bersamin Jr., was a congressman from Abra. His other brother, Takit Bersamin, was a governor of Abra.
