Marcos to name new DepEd chief by end of the week

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he would announce the next Department of Education (DepEd) secretary by the end of the week, following Vice President Sara Duterte's resignation. 

In an ambush interview with Palace reporters, Marcos said the DepEd should not be left without an overall leader. According to him, Duterte did not give any reason as to why she left her post. 

''She didn’t give any reasons. I asked her, are there any particular reasons why she has chosen to resign from the Department of Education and the NTF-ELCAC, she said, ‘Huwag na lang natin pag-usapan’ (let's just not talk about it), so I did not force the issue,'' Marcos said. 

''Well we have to carry on and the Department of Education is quite possibly, arguably the most important department because education is that important, so no matter the change of leadership in the department, we still have to carry on, so we are now, I will probably be able to, I would like to be able to announce the appointment of the DepEd Secretary by the end of the week,'' he added.

The President emphasized that DepEd should not be left open because its mandate is necessary. Marcos said he had asked for names so that he could already decide on who to appoint as Duterte's replacement.

''Minamadali ko lahat. Sinasabi ko bigyan niyo ko ng maraming pangalan.  Ano ba 'yung gusto natin? What do we need? Tignan natin the status of the DepEd. What is now required, ano pa ba ang kailangan gawin?'' he said.

(I want it fast-tracked. I asked for many names. What do we like? What do we need? Let's look at the status of DepEd. What must be done?)

Duterte announced her resignation from DepEd last week. She also resigned as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

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. 

LOOK: VP Sara Duterte's resignation letter as DepEd secretary

In a statement announcing her resignation, Duterte said her resignation as DepEd was not due to weakness but out of concern for teachers and students.

She said she gave a 30-day notice “to ensure the proper and orderly transition for the benefit of the next Secretary.”

Despite her resignation from the Cabinet, Duterte, the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said she remains "friendly" with Marcos. 

READ: Timeline of Marcos-Duterte tandem's woes

Duterte was Marcos' running-mate in the 2022 national elections. 

UniTeam

Meanwhile, asked about the status of UniTeam, Marcos said nothing has changed with the alliance. However, Sara Duterte's stance in the coming elections would be a major factor in determining the status of the team. 

''You have to remember, the PDP was never a part of the UniTeam... kahit na noong election (even during the elections), so it does not change anything for the UniTeam. Depende lang kung ano position ni Inday Sara pagdating sa election, siya ba ay nasa administrasyon o siya ba ay nasa oposisyon? (That will depend on Inday Sara's position during the elections, will she be in the administration or opposition),'' Marcos said.

''That will be the only major determinant. But as the parties involved, pareho pa rin ang UniTeam, hindi pa nagbago (the UniTeam is still the same),'' he added. 

Marcos further said that ''the UniTeam is still there and if you look at the structure of the parties that ran together in the last election, that really hasn’t changed.'' —KBK, GMA Integrated News