PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he would announce by the end of the week the replacement of Vice President Sara Duterte as Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary.
Marcos, in a media interview, said the Education department is arguably the most important government agency and should not be left without a head.
“We have to carry on and the Department of Education is, possibly, arguably the most important department. Because education is that important. So no matter the change of leadership within the department, we still have to carry on,” Marcos said.
“So we are now, I will probably be able to, I would like to be able to announce the appointment of the DepEd Secretary by the end of the week. We cannot leave it open. We cannot just leave it like that nakatiwangwang lang na walang secretary,” he said.
Duterte resigned as DepEd Secretary and vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) last week, essentially leaving the Cabinet of the Marcos administration.
In her resignation letter, Duterte said she has prepared a 30-day plan to ensure the seamless transition of the DepEd.
The President said Duterte did not provide any reason for stepping down from the Cabinet.
“She didn’t give any reason. I asked her, is there any particular reason why she has chosen to resign from the Department of Education and the NTF-ELCAC. And she said, ‘Wag na lang nating pag-usapan’, so I did not force the issue,” he said. (PNA)
