Palace slams VP Sara: Education rants mirror failed DepEd stint

‘COMPLETE FAILURE’. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro holds a press media briefing at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday (Aug. 20, 2025). Castro branded Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as education secretary a “complete failure” after she criticized the Philippines’ lagging education system. (PNA photo by Darryl John Esguerra)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang branded Vice President Sara Duterte’s stint as education secretary a “complete failure” after she criticized the Philippines’ lagging education system.

In a press briefing Wednesday, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Duterte’s claim that the country remains stuck in “paper and pencil” learning methods only mirrors her shortcomings while leading the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Binigyan po siya ng pagkakataon, pinakatiwalaan siya ng Pangulo since 2022 hanggang 2024 para maging DepEd Secretary. Dalawang taon halos na siya ay dapat nagtrabaho (She was given the chance, she was entrusted by the President from 2022 to 2024 to be DepEd Secretary. She had almost two years to work),” Castro said.

“Kung ano man ang kanyang nirereklamo dapat natupad sana niya ito sa kanyang panahon (Whatever she is complaining about now should have been addressed during her time),” she added.

“Sa kanyang reklamo ngayon nagrereflect lamang —bilang siya ay dating DepEd secretary— ay complete failure (Her complaints now only reflect —as a former DepEd secretary— a complete failure).”

Castro assured the public that Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara is now cleaning up the problems left behind and pushing long-delayed reforms, including the distribution of more than a million laptops, gadgets, and teaching materials procured in 2020 but only utilized in 2024 under his watch.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Duterte as education secretary upon their assumption of office on June 30, 2022. She stepped down in June 2024.