VP Sara Duterte resigns as DepEd secretary, vice chairperson of NTF-ELCAC
Vice President Sara Duterte has stepped down from her posts as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and a member of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced the news on Wednesday, June 19.
“At 2:21 pm 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 NTF-ELCAC, effective 19 July 2024,” the PCO wrote.
They also added that Duterte declined to disclose the reason as of writing.
“She will continue to serve as Vice President,” they said, adding, “We thank her for her service.”
Shortly after the announcement, Duterte held a press conference to look back on her track as DepEd secretary for the past two years.
“Mga kababayan, ang aking pagbibitaw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan, kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at kabataang Pilipino. Bagamat hindi ako magpapatuloy na mamamahala sa kagawaran, patuloy pa rin natin itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasyon na nararapat para sa Pilipino," she told the media.
She added, "Hindi man ako ang tumatayong kalihim ng edukasyon, mananatili akong isang ina [na] nagmamatiyag at titindig para sa kapakanan ng bawat guro at bawat mag-aaral sa Pilipinas, para sa isang matatag na Pilipinas."