Vice President Sara Duterte rejected Malacañang’s claim that her two-year stint as head of the Department of Education (DepEd) was a “complete failure,” saying President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself tried to convince her to stay before she tendered her irrevocable resignation.
“Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling yung sinasabi nilang failure ako as a Department of Education secretary,” Duterte said in an interview with Alvin Dave Sarzate.
This was after Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro, on Wednesday, August 20, accused Duterte of leaving behind unresolved issues and failing to deliver reforms in the education sector.
Duterte stressed that her comments about the country lagging behind in education were based on facts and should not have been taken against her.
“Unang-una nasabi ko ‘yun na we are still, we are truly behind more developed countries around the world and that is true, that is an observation, that is the fact of the Philippines, I have all the rights to say kung ano ang katotohanan ng bansa natin. That is covered by the Freedom of Speech and Expression natin," she stated.
"So, dapat siguro walang magalit kasi yun naman ang katotohanan ng bansa natin. Saan ba tayo masisimula mag-sip ng solusyon kung hindi natin tanggapin na may problema ‘yung bayan,” Duterte emphasized.
The former DepEd chief insisted it was unfair to brand her as a failure, pointing out that Marcos himself attempted several times to dissuade her from resigning.
She recounted that on June 19, 2024, during a meeting at Malacañang about the opening of classes, she finally decided to hand in her resignation letter, which she had been holding on to for months.
According to Duterte, the President was surprised by her decision and repeatedly asked her to reconsider.
“Inofferan niya [President Marcos] ako. May gusto ka ba na posisyon? Ang sabi ko wala akong gustong posisyon," she said.
"Tapos ang ang sunod niyang sinabi sa akin, pwede ka bang tumulong sa midterm elections para sa senators.” Duterte added.
Duterte argued that such actions were not consistent with labeling her a failure.
“Clearly, lahat ng attempts niya to make me reconsider my resignation na sinabi niya na magstay lang ako as Department secretary ng deped. Na sinabi niya gusto ko bang lumipat ng posisyon...Hindi yun actions ng taong tumitingin as failure ako, action yun ng taong tumitingin na kailangan niya 'yung trabaho ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling yung sinasabi nilang failure ako as a department of education secretary,” she said.
Furthermore, Duterte recalled that after submitting her resignation, Marcos bid her farewell with a handshake and a beso-beso. She claimed that at around 10:25 to 10:30 a.m., the President smelled of alcohol — which she described as resembling "whiskey.”
“Doon naconfirm 'yung desisyon ko na magresign. So, hindi ako ang failure. Siguro ang failure is 'yung 10:30 pa lang ng umaga, amoy alak ka na,” she remarked.
The Palace, through Castro, earlier maintained that Duterte’s tenure as DepEd secretary from 2022 to 2024 was marked by unfulfilled promises, including the failure to distribute 1.5 million gadgets.
The row erupted after Duterte earlier commented that the Philippines remains “stuck in pencil and paper” while other nations advance in education.
