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(SDN) — Vice President Inday Sara Z. Duterte has abandoned the Cabinet of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
This is being spoken about on social media now after the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced Duterte’s resignation of her positions in the Marcos Cabinet on PCO’s Facebook page.
“At 2:21 p.m. today, 19 June 2024, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, went to Malacañang and tendered her resignation as Member of the Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Education, and Vice Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), effective 19 July 2024,” the PCO said in the announcement.
While she continues to serve as Vice President, the PCO emphasized, Duterte did not reveal her reasons for resigning.
“We thank her for her service,” the Malacañang official said.
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Update: 6:57 p.m.
Much later in the day, the Vice President was seen on TV herself confirming her action in the English anad Filipino languages.
“Earlier today, June 19, 2024, I sought an audience with the President and tendered my resignation as the secretary of education effective July 19, 2024. I have given my 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.” (Countrymen, my resignation is not out of weakness but because of genuine care for our teachers and the Filipino youth.)
She emphasized that even if she will no longer continue managing the department, we will still continue to promote the quality of education that is right for Filipinos.
Duterte added that although she is no longer the education secretary, she will remain a mother looking after and taking the cudgel for the benefit of every teacher and every learner I’m the Philippines.
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On the other hand, it is public knowledge that Duterte had a falling out with First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos recently, with the Vice President apparently taking the high road by refusing to inflame their situation by not discussing their feud, at least publicly.
The Vice President was also the target of public hearings conducted by the House of Representatives as it blocked the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the DepEd in the 2024 budget.
According to the Inquirer.net, there were also impeachment rumors that went around sometime November 2023 in the Lower House. House leaders denied the rumors, though.
One news media member commented that Duterte “can now effectively strategize her presidential run in 2028.”
A Pulse Asia survey conducted in March 2024, showed that Senator Raffy Tulfo and Vice President Duterte emerged the top contenders for presidential race in 2028, according to Rappler’s report on published April 2 the same year. EDD K. USMAN (✓)