Despite leaving her official family, Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, June 25, maintained that she and President Marcos are still friends.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)
“I would think, sa tingin ko, ay magkaibigan pa rin kami ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos (in my view, President Bongbong Marcos and I are still friends),” she said when asked about her relationship with the Chief Executive.
Duterte was interviewed by the media during her office’s annual Pride Reception in Cagayan de Oro City.
She, however, refused to give more details as to her relationship with the President, with whom she run under the Uniteam banner during the 2022 national elections.
“Sa ibang panahon, pag-uusapan natin ‘yan. Sa ngayon, ang pag-uusapan natin ay ang transition. Napakahalaga talaga na maganda ang turn over at transition (In another time, we will talk about that. For now, let’s talk about the transition. It’s very important for a proper turnover and transition),” she said.
Duterte has given the President a 30-day notice, with her resignation from the Department of Education (DepEd) taking full effect on July 19.
While she did not give a reason for her resignation and said she has “no idea” who the next DepEd chief will be, the Vice President stressed that she welcomes the new appointee.
Duterte also plans to continue her active role in improving the quality of education in the country.
“After that, pag-uusapan nmin sa Office of the Vice President paano pa hanapin iyong mga underserved communities natin para magsuporta kami sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno para makapagbigay ng mga proyekto (After that [transition], we at the Office of the Vice President will identify underserved communities so we can support different agencies with projects),” she shared.
Even before her resignation as DepEd chief, tensions have simmered within her Uniteam tandem with Marcos.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos has been vocal of her disapproval of the Vice President after she apparently laughed at former president Rodrigo Duterte calling Marcos “bangag (stoned).”
Duterte’s brothers—Paolo and Sebastian—have also been critical of the Marcos administration.