Sara Duterte formally communicated with OVP, DepEd for 'smooth' transition —spox

The transition of powers between outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo and Vice President-elect Sara Duterte has formally started, according to the latter's spokesperson on Saturday.

In a statement, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, Duterte’s spokesperson, said that the vice president-elect “has communicated formally with the Office of the Vice President… with the view to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and comprehensive transition.”

In a follow-up statement on Sunday, Frasco said that Duterte's communication with the OVP was for a meeting "between the teams, and not personally between the outgoing Vice President and the incoming Vice President."

Meanwhile, the San Pedro Square in Davao City is being readied for Duterte’s inauguration as vice president-elect on June 19. 

Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson of Robredo, said that preparations are ongoing for the turnover.

On Sunday, Robredo returned to the Philippines from New York, where she attended the graduation of her youngest daughter, Jillian.

Frasco said Duterte has also formally communicated with the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Education.

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has tapped Duterte to be his Education secretary.

Outgoing Education chief Leonor Briones welcomed Duterte's appointment and committed to work for an orderly transition of the DepEd leadership. 

“As the transition process is still ongoing entailing detailed discussions on all aspects of the workings of the OVP and the DepEd, information on the completion of this process will be released once available,” Frasco said.

Duterte earlier said as DepEd secretary, she would work on "producing skilled learners with the mindset to realize their full potential as individuals." —KG/BM, GMA News