Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), and Vice Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), effective on July 19, 2024.
The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced that the Vice President came to Malacañang to tender her resignation at 2:21 PM on Wednesday, June 19.
Duterte did not disclose the reason why.
The PCO assured she will remain in service as Vice President, and thanked her for her service.
BREAKING: Nag-resign na si Vice Pres. @indaysara Duterte bilang miyembro ng Gabinete, Kalihim ng @DepEd_PH, at Vice Chairperson ng NTF-ELCAC. | RH 14 @leth_narciso, DZRH News#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/k64e0oRAwM
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) June 19, 2024
On Wednesday afternoon at the DepEd main office in Pasig City, Duterte delivered her resignation speech.
"Ang kuwentong nabuo natin, ay kuwentong kapit-bisig, napagtaguyod sa adhikaing maitatag ang isang bansang makabata, at batang makabansa. Ngunit anumang kuwento, kahit gaano kaganda, ay sadyang nagtatapos rin."
(The story we have made is one with linked arms, established in the aspiration to establish a nation for the youth, and a youth for the country. However, any story, no matter how good, comes to an end.)
She said she had left her post as DepEd Secretary not due to weakness, but out of compassion.
"Mga kababayan, ang aking pagbibitiw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan, kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at kabataang Pilipino."
(My countrymen, my resignation is not of the burden of weakness, but brought about by true concern for our teachers and Filipino children.)
"Bagama't hindi ako magpapatuloy na mamamahala sa kagawaran, patuloy pa rin nating itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasyon na nararapat para sa Pilipino," Duterte assured.
(Although I will no longer oversee the department, we will continue to promote the quality of education Filipinos deserve.)
