After resigning on Wednesday, June 19, Vice President Sara Duterte clarified that her decision to step down as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) was not due to perceived “weakness.”
Duterte made this statement at the DepEd Central Office in Pasig City, shortly after submitting her resignation to Malacañang.
She relinquished her roles as a Cabinet member, Secretary of Education, and Vice Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Meanwhile, Duterte will continue to serve as Vice President, according to a social media post by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
"Ngunit, ang mga kwento, kahit gaano kaganda, ay sadyang nagtatapos din (However, stories, no matter how beautiful, inevitably come to an end)," she said.
"Earlier today, June 19, 2024, I sought an audience with the President and tendered my resignation as Secretary of Education effective July 19, 2024,” she also said.
"I have given my 30-day notice to ensure a proper and orderly transition for the benefit of the next Secretary," Duterte added.
In her statement, Duterte expressed gratitude to the sectors that supported her during her two-year administration.
"Thank you for the support, thank you for being "matatag" (steadfast). The nation will forever be in your debts. In our two years together, the story we created is a story of our collective minds,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Furthermore, the Vice President highlighted her accomplishments during her tenure as Secretary of Education.