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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte resigns: Will she emerge as the new opposition leader?

Duterte resigns: Will she emerge as the new opposition leader?

Published Jun 20, 2024 01:48 am

As the country bids farewell to the Uniteam tandem, will Vice President Sara Duterte emerge as the country’s opposition leader?

VPSD_resignation.jpg
Vice President Sara Duterte announces her resignation from the Marcos Cabinet during a press conference on Wednesday, June 19, 2024. (Photo from the Office of the Vice President)

This was what former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed when he cheered on the end of the Uniteam after Duterte tendered her resignation as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).

“Uniteam has formally been dissolved and she has just become the leader of the opposition,” Roque, a lawyer, wrote on Facebook.

“The line has been drawn! The Philippines finally has a real leader. Onwards to Transparency, Accountability, Peace and Security! Let’s redeem the Philippines!,” he added.

But the Liberal Party, through a statement by its spokesperson, former senator Leila de Lima, opposed Roque’s pronouncement.

“Mariing tinututulan ng Partido Liberal ang naging deklarasyon ni dating Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque matapos magbitiw ni VP Sara Duterte sa kanyang posisyon sa gabinete. Aniya, sa pagkalusaw ng Uniteam, si VP Sara na raw ang leader ng oposisyon (The Liberal Party opposes the declaration by former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque after VP Sara Duterte resigned from her Cabinet position. According to him, with the end of the Uniteam, VP Sara has become the leader of the opposition),” the statement read.

The former senator pointed out that an opposition leader should have a foundation of “accountability, transparency, and concern for others,” which she said Duterte’s track record lacks.

“Sa kanyang pagbibitiw, wala namang naganap na pag-ako sa responsibilidad, o pagbabago ng mga prinsipyo at paninindigan. Paano naging oposisyon ang may pananagutang hanggang ngayon, sinisingil pa ng taumbayan (By her resignation, no accountability was done, or a change in principles and position. How can someone who has made herself accountable to the people become the leader of the opposition)?,” she asked.

De Lima, a staunch critic of and was thrown in detention by former president Rodrigo Duterte, also criticized the Vice President for defending embattled Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and remaining silent on China’s aggression.

“Higit sa lahat: Taumbayan ang inuuna ng oposisyon. Hindi ang pagpapalawak at pagpapanatili sa kapangyarihan. Hindi ang pagtatanggol sa wanted na religious leader o pagpatay sa libu-libong Pilipino (Above all, the opposition prioritizes the people. Not gaining more power. Not defending a wanted religious leader or killing thousands of Filipinos),” De Lima said.

“Lalo namang hindi ang pagbubulag-bulagan sa pang-aapi sa ating mga mangingisda at pang-aagaw sa ating teritoryo ng mga dayuhan (Especially not turning a blind eye on how foreigners are oppressing our fishermen and stealing our territory),” she furthered.

Former Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesman Barry Gutierrez, who once called for Duterte’s resignation from her DepEd post, also officially bid farewell to the Uniteam tandem.

“Goodbye, Uniteam” was what he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) upon hearing the news that Duterte has resigned.

In a separate post, he also asked about the Vice President’s next step now that she is no longer serving as a Cabinet member.

“May tanong ako: Ngayong di na siya miyembro ng Cabinet, magsasalita na ba siya tungkol sa panghihimasok ng Tsina sa WPS (I have a question: Now that is no longer a member of the Cabinet, is she going to comment about China’s intrusion into WPS)?,” Gutierrez questioned.

Duterte has remained mum about China’s aggressive actions in Philippine waters, but Marcos had defended her and said she’s one with his administration’s stance in the territorial and maritime issue.

On Wednesday, June 19, Duterte and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that she has personally tendered her resignation from the Cabinet to the President without stating any reason.

The resignation will take effect on July 19, giving the next secretary ample time for the transition.

Related Tags

Harry Roque VP Sara Duterte Liberal Party opposition leader
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