MANILA (UPDATED) — Five high-ranking officials of the Department of Education (DepEd) submitted their resignation letters to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday ahead of the leadership change at the agency.

Sen. Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara will assume office as Education Secretary this week following the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte last month.

The education executives who quit their posts ahead of Angara's takeover of the agency include Undersecretary Michael Poa, who is also Duterte's chief of staff; Undersecretary for Administration Nolasco Mempin; Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda; Assistant Secretary for Procurement Reynold Munsayac; and Assistant Secretary for Administration Noel Baluyan.

Their resignations will be effective on July 19, 2024, the same as Duterte's.

READ: Incoming DepEd chief Sonny Angara says 'willing to work with anyone'

"I think it’s only appropriate for the incoming Secretary of Education, Secretary Angara, to be given a free hand to choose the people that will form part of his team," Poa told ABS-CBN News.

Poa said that a turn-over ceremony would be held at the DepEd office on July 18.

In a statement, Angara said he "respect(s) the decision of the DepEd Undersecretaries and Assistant Secretaries who tendered their courtesy resignations ahead of our assumption as Secretary of Education."

"We eagerly anticipate taking on our new role this Friday. Any appropriate appointments will be announced soon as we intend to hit the ground running and drive immediate progress," he added.

In a separate interview, Angara also said that he is "willing to work with anyone" and thanked the DepEd for its cooperation during the transition period. 

Angara has had a series of meetings with key DepEd officials before the official turnover ceremony, but he has yet to personally meet with Duterte.

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