Before her resignation took effect on Friday, July 19, Vice President and former Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte finally addressed the reasons behind her departure, despite her "deep affection" for her job and colleagues at the agency.
In a chance interview on July 18, right after a simple ceremony where she formally turned over the DepEd leadership to Secretary Sonny Angara, Duterte cited several factors that led to her decision to quit DepEd.
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Exactly a month ago, on June 19, Duterte announced her resignation as DepEd Secretary following an audience with President Marcos.
Her resignation surprised many, given her relatively brief tenure and the significant role the position holds in shaping the future of education in the Philippines, especially with the opening of a new school year this July.
She did not specify a reason for her resignation but assured that she would ensure a “proper and orderly transition” through her 30-day notice.
“Ang aking pagbitiw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan ng loob, kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at sa kabataang Pilipino (My resignation is not born out of weakness, but out of genuine concern for our teachers and the Filipino youth),” Duterte said, a statement that seemed vague to many stakeholders.
Although she resigned from her DepEd post, Duterte said she would continue to uphold the quality of education that the Filipino people deserve and “watch over and stand up” for the welfare of every teacher and student in the Philippines.
‘Long story,’ tangled reasons
Asked repeatedly why she resigned, Duterte finally broke her silence and revealed that there is a “long story” behind her decision to quit DepEd.
In summary, Duterte said that a combination of personal and professional issues resulted in her decision to leave her post.
“Mayroong personal, sa aming dalawa ni President Marcos, which stems sa napag-usapan namin bago ako pumayag noong tumakbong vice president (There is something personal between President Marcos and me, stemming from what we discussed before I agreed to run for vice president),” Duterte said.
“Mayroon sa trabaho at meron sa bayan --- mahaba na kwento and we will need a sit down (There are matters at work and matters concerning the country—it's a long story, and we will need a sit-down),” Duterte added.
Duterte said that the reason behind her resignation is long and complicated and would likely require a "sit-down" interview or conversation.
“Kailangan niya ng sit down dahil hindi siya isang rason lang…nagkabuhol-buhol na, maraming rason (A sit-down is needed because it’s not just one reason...it has become tangled with many reasons),” Duterte said.
Heavy heart, regrets
While “personal and work” reasons led her to resign, Duterte said she would leave DepEd with a “heavy heart.”
Asked if she regrets running the agency over the past two years, Duterte said: “No, in fact, it is with a heavy heart that I leave the Department of Education.”
“Minahal ko itong trabaho na ito, minahal ko yung mga kasama ko sa DepEd (I loved this job, I loved my colleagues at DepEd),” she added.
Although she does not regret leading the agency in such a short time, Duterte is saddened that she could not complete some programs and projects initiated during her term.
“Meron talaga akong regrets. Gusto ko talaga tapusin kung ano man yung dapat na deliverables ng Marcos administration mula sa DepEd (I really have regrets. I truly wanted to finish whatever deliverables the Marcos administration has from the DepEd),” she added.
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The elusive DepEd Secretary
In contrast to her previously reserved and elusive demeanor as DepEd Chief, Duterte appeared notably more “relaxed” and relieved during the chance interview.
Media personnel, including reporters, photographers, and cameramen, gathered around the former secretary, recognizing this as a rare opportunity.
The usually tight-lipped official seemed “game” to answer questions, even as her former staff repeatedly said, “Last question na po.”
Duterte continued to reassure her former staff that it was “okay” and expressed understanding of why the reporters were asking questions. “Kailangan nila iyan para may mai-report sila sa desk nila (They need that so they have something to report on their desk),” she said.
The interview, probably one of the longest she had granted since becoming DepEd Secretary, took place after a symbolic tree-planting ceremony that followed the turnover.
Unlike her predecessors, Duterte did not hold a sit-down press conference with education reporters during her two years at DepEd.
The only briefing she called was to announce her resignation in June, after which she left without entertaining follow-up questions.
At various events, Duterte would agree to brief ambush interviews but remained selective in addressing certain issues.
During her term, DepEd key officials were also “restricted” from speaking on agency matters unless they had explicit “clearance” to do so.
Without regular press conferences, all inquiries related to the agency were directed to the former spokesperson, lawyer Michael Poa. He was among the key officials who resigned before Angara’s takeover.
After the ambush interview, Duterte even took a selfie with several media personnel — an act that would have seemed inconceivable just months before her resignation.