MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has tendered her resignation as secretary of the Department of Education and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. accepted Duterte-Carpio’s irrevocable resignation.
“She will continue to serve as Vice President. We thank her for her service,” Garafil said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
In a press conference, Duterte-Carpio stressed that her resignation from the Cabinet posts “ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit sa ating mga guro at kabataang Pilipino.”
“Earlier today, I sought an audience with the President and I 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,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Despite her imminent departure from DepEd, Duterte-Carpio assured the nation that she will continue to champion the welfare of teachers and students.
“Hindi man ako tumatayo na kalihim ng edukasyon, mananatili akong isang ina, nagmamatyag at titindig para sa kapakanan ng bawat guro at bawat mag-aaral sa Pilipinas para sa isang matatag na Pilipinas,” she said.
It was just last week, June 12, when Duterte-Carpio declared in an interview in Davao City that her “UniTeam” with Marcos during the 2022 national elections no longer exists as the campaign period was already over.
“UniTeam was the tandem during the 2022 elections. And then ngayon na tapos na ang elections, nanalo na kami,” Duterte-Carpio said.
“Nagpapasalamat kami sa aming kababayan sa kanilang suporta sa tandem ng UniTeam noong 2022,” she added.
Cracks in the Marcos and Duterte-Carpio partnership began to show in 2023 when the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez – Marcos’ cousin – removed former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as senior deputy speaker. The Vice President responded by bolting Lakas-CMD, Romualdez’s party.
Duterte-Carpio was then stripped off her confidential funds by the Romualdez-led House under the 2024 national budget.
In January at a prayer rally in Davao City, former President Rodrigo Duterte accused President Marcos of using illegal drugs. His allegations were denied by the President.
First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos would say in a subsequent interview that Duterte-Carpio was a “bad shot” to her after the Vice President was caught on camera laughing while her father attacked the President in that Davao prayer rally./PN
