VP Sara: I will no longer serve in another cabinet post

Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo: Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte said Thursday she’s not planning to accept another cabinet function after her resignation as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“Hindi na ako magse-serve in another cabinet post sa (I will no longer serve in another cabinet post) under (President Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.’s) administration,” she said in a media interview on the sidelines of the ceremonial turnover of the DepEd leadership to incoming Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

With her resignation set to take effect on Friday, Duterte said she regrets leaving the department with some unfulfilled “dream programs.”

“It is with a heavy heart that I leave the Department of Education. Minahal ko itong trabaho na ito. Mahal ko iyong mga kasama ko sa (I loved my work here. I love those I worked with in the) Department of Education,” she said.

“So mayroon talaga akong regrets dahil gusto ko talagang tapusin iyong kung ano man iyong deliverables ng Marcos administration (I do have regrets because I wanted to finish whatever deliverables we have under the Marcos administration).”

The country’s second-highest official, however, declined to disclose the details behind her resignation, saying the move did not stem from a single reason.

“We need a sit-down for the reasons. Mayroong personal sa aming dalawa ni President Marcos, which stems from iyong napag-usapan namin na bago ako pumayag na tumakbong Vice President, mayroon siyang sa trabaho, and mayroon siya sa bayan (There’s a personal [reason] between me and the President, which stems from what we had discussed before I agreed to run as Vice President, there’s a work-related [reason], and about the nation),” Duterte said.

She, however, clarified that her relationship with the Chief Executive remains “okay” and that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos has nothing to do with her resignation.

“No, kasi wala naman ding kinalaman si First Lady sa trabaho namin ni Pangulong Marcos (the First Lady has nothing to do with my work with President Marcos),” Duterte added.

Midterm polls

Duterte, meanwhile, said she has no plans yet for the 2025 midterm polls despite earlier calls from President Marcos and former president Rodrigo Duterte to support several candidates for senator.

“Inimbita ako ni President Marcos na sumali, tumulong sa administration para sa mga senator candidates at sabi ko sa kanya, hindi muna ako sasali sa midterm elections (President Marcos invited me to join and help the administration’s senatorial candidates and I told him I will not yet join the midterm elections),” she said.

She gave a similar response when her father asked her to support candidates of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) – Lakas ng Bayan, underscoring the need to think her “directions” for the midterm polls.

Duterte, however, said she is scheduled to meet with Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go and Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa for a “heart-to-heart” talk after Marcos’ 3rd State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Vice President also said she would probably watch the SONA remotely in Manila after confirming she would not attend the event.