Sara Duterte quits DepEd, NTF-ELCAC posts

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday quit as secretary of the Department of Education and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

According to PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. accepted Duterte's resignation, which is effective Friday, July 19.

Garafil said Duterte had declined to provide a reason why she quit her post.

"She will continue to serve as Vice President. We thank her for her service," Garafil said in a brief statement.

The PCO has not provided any information yet as to who will replace Duterte as DepEd Secretary.

In her resignation letter, Duterte said she has prepared a 30-day transition plan for all the nine strands in the Central Office, as well as for the different Boards and Councils chaired by DepEd and SEAMEO.

''I shall remain of service to the country through the various programs, activities, and projects of the Office of the Vice President,'' Duterte said. 

'Not due to weakness'

Later at a press briefing, Duterte said her resignation was not due to weakness, but out of concern for teachers and students.

"Mga kababayan, ang aking pagbibitiw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at kabataang Pilipino," she said.

(My countrymen, my resignation was not due to weakness but due to my true concern for our teachers and Filipino youth.)

"Bagama’t hindi ako magpapatuloy na mamamahala sa Kagawaran, patuloy pa rin nating itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasyon na nararapat para sa Pilipino," she added.

(Although I will not continue heading the Department, I will continue to promote the quality of education that Filipinos deserve.)

Duterte was Marcos' runningmate in Eleksyon 2022 under UniTeam.

To recall, Marcos' wife, First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos, admitted having ill feelings towards the Vice President after Sara's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called the President "bangag" or high on drugs.

The First Lady said she took offense when she saw the Vice President laughing over the former President's remark at a Davao City rally in late January to oppose efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Last February, the Vice President said she and Marcos have no issue with each other even after her father and brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian ''Baste'' Duterte, criticized the Chief Executive.

Despite his wife's ill feelings, Marcos had said he did not see any reason why Duterte needs to be replaced in his Cabinet.

In late May 2023, Duterte posted a photo of herself with the  cryptic caption, “Sa imong ambisyon, do not be tambaloslos.”

(In your ambition, do not be tambaloslos.)

Among Visayans, “tambaloslos” referred to a greedy mythical creature that had a large mouth and leds people astray.

The post was made a few days after the Vice President announced her irrevocable resignation as member of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, the party under which she ran in the previous elections.

Reactions 

Senate President Francis ''Chiz'' Escudero said he respects the decision of Duterte; but he said Duterte's resignation was inevitable amid the attacks made by the Dutertes. 

''I believe her resignation was inevitable from the time her father, FPRRD, and her siblings and allies started attacking PBBM and members of the First Family,'' Escudero said in a statement. 

''Its inevitability became more pronounced when she was already silent and not expressing her support on certain policy issues such as the West Philippine Sea, the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn, the Quiboloy cases and attempted arrest, etc.,'' he added. 

Escudero said that Duterte, as the Vice President, has every right to have policy differences with the President. 

''I believe that people love and respect her precisely for that… for having and fighting for what she believes in and for her own beliefs,'' he said. 

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino ''Koko'' Pimentel III said Marcos should immediately prepare to appoint the next DepEd chief.

''This person must be someone who has worked with or in the department for decades. Someone familiar with how the department works as well as with the problems of the education sector and educational system. Someone who has dedicated his or her life to education and can show the track record for it,'' Pimentel said. —KG/VDV/NB/RSJ, GMA Integrated News