MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not see the need to replace Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) despite her rift with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
According to the Chief Executive, he will only replace Duterte-Carpio as Education secretary if she got involved in corruption activities or if she is incompetent.
“Why? I don’t see the reason behind that,” Marcos said in an interview in Occidental Mindoro on Tuesday. “Kapag hindi talaga marunong o corrupt, tatanggalin ka talaga namin. Hindi naman ganoon si Inday.”
He added: “Any of the Cabinet secretaries will be replaced kapag hindi nila ginagawa ‘yung trabaho nila. All the other things are not part of the discussion.”
President Marcos further said the sentiment of his wife will not affect his working relationship with Duterte-Carpio.
Calls for Duterte-Carpio’s ouster as Education secretary surfaced after Araneta-Marcos said in an interview that she has ill feelings towards the Vice President.
She claimed that Duterte-Carpio was captured laughing when the latter’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called President Marcos “bangag” in a rally in Davao City.
Duterte-Carpio, in response, acknowledged the resentment of Araneta-Marcos but said the latter’s personal feelings have nothing to do with Duterte’s mandate as the country’s second highest government official.
The Vice President added that she would discuss the matter with President Marcos privately./PN
