Sara Duterte resigns from Marcos Cabinet | ABS-CBN

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Sara Duterte resigns from Marcos Cabinet

Sara Duterte resigns from Marcos Cabinet

Rowegie Abanto,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Jun 19, 2024 11:41 PM PHT

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MANILA (3rd UPDATE) — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday resigned from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., following tense relations between their families in recent months.

Duterte "tendered her resignation as Member of the Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Education and Vice Chairperson of the NTF-ELCAC, effective 19 July 2024,"  Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.

Garafil said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. accepted Duterte's decision, adding that the Vice President declined to give a reason for leaving the Cabinet. 

Duterte will continue as vice president, Garafil added. 

"We thank her for her service," the Palace official said.

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As vice president, the 46-year-old would take over as president in case Marcos, 66, dies or becomes unable to perform his duties at any time during their six-year terms

In a speech shortly after the Palace announcement, Duterte said she met with Marcos earlier in the day to file her resignation. She said she provided a 30-day notice "to ensure the proper and orderly transition for the benefit of the next secretary."

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

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

Below is Duterte's resignation letter, as provided to media.

Marcos and Duterte had teamed up to a landslide victory in the May 2022 presidential and vice-presidential election.

Relations between the Marcos and Duterte families have plummeted in the past two years.

Fronting a rally of supporters in his home city Davao on January 28, Duterte accused Marcos of being a "drug addict", while his youngest son Sebastian Duterte said Marcos should resign.

Marcos hit back the next day, claiming that his predecessor's long-term use of the powerful opioid fentanyl had taken a toll on his health.

Neither man provided evidence of the other's alleged drug use.

The former president has also urged the military and police to unseat Marcos if he pursued his proposal to amend the constitution, and threatened to get his southern home region of Mindanao to secede.

Marcos and Sara Duterte had tried to downplay the tension between their clans by saying their tandem remained. 

However, more recently, Duterte told the media that her alliance with Marcos was only good during the elections.

Duterte was also "silent" on recent policy issues such as the West Philippine Sea, the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn, the cases against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, among others, noted Senate President Chiz Escudero. 

"As the Vice President, she has every right to have policy differences with the President and 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. I wish her well in this, her new journey as she continues to serve our people as our Vice President," Escudero said.

UNITEAM

Duterte's exit from the Cabinet "terminates absolutely the UniTeam," Albay First District Rep. and Liberal Party President Edcel Lagman said. 

“The resignation of VP Duterte from the Marcos Jr. Cabinet also marks the open war between the former allies and the upcoming escalation of hostilities between the two camps,” ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro added.

The development "is definitely a political move in preparation for the 2025 elections to set the stage for a potential power struggle between the Duterte and Marcos factions,” Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said.

Duterte did not entertain questions from reporters after issuing her statement.

"We understand that most are curious as to the reason behind such decision, but what is of greater and pressing importance is that a proper transition be made for the next Secretary," said DepEd Undersecretary Michael Poa. 

"We ask for patience, especially from our media partners and friends, as we will not be taking interviews on the matter during the transition period," he said.

DEPED

Sen. Koko Pimentel urged Marcos to "immediately prepare to appoint the next Secretary of Education." 

"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," he said.

The Vice President said she woud keep a close eye on the education sector.

“Patuloy pa rin nating itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasuyon na nararapat para sa mga Pilipino,” she said.

“Mananatili akong isang ina na nagmamatyag at titindig para sa karapatan ng bawat guro at mag-aaral sa Pilipinas,” she added.

In her last speech as Education Secretary, Duterte underscored her achievements as head of the department, including her “Matatag” program, which sought to address woes in the basic education sector.

“DepEd has had to innovate on the provision of basic education facilities… to address the congestion and avoid learning disruption in times of calamities,” she said.

“We have removed all admisnitrative tasks to unburden our teachers,” she said.

During her tenure as DepEd chief, the agency provided internet connection to 2,000 last-mile schools, and sought “for all schools to be connected” by the end of 2025.

Duterte also highlighted the hotline she created for teachers and students who are in distress.

– With reports from Kat Domingo and Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse



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