In a plot twist straight out of a Filipino telenovela, Vice President Sara Duterte has exited stage left from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet. On June 19, 2024, the Palace announced that Duterte “tendered her resignation as Member of the Cabinet, Secretary of the Department of Education and Vice Chairperson of the NTF Elcac, effective 19 July 2024.” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil stated that President Marcos accepted Duterte’s resignation, which intriguingly came with no given reason. However, Duterte assured the nation that her departure was “not borne out of weakness but true concern for our teachers and Filipino youth.”
Netizens, as expected, had a field day with the announcement. Some praised her service, while others sharpened their keyboards to deliver biting, sarcastic commentary. "She’s the only performing Cabinet secretary of this admin. hayz!" lamented Barry Baquilod. But Jay-Tee Sirius quickly retorted, "WTTFFF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??!!! ARE YOU HIGH OR SOMETHING?"
In the tangled web of political allegiances and rivalries, Duterte’s resignation adds another chapter to the Duterte-Marcos family saga. Tensions have simmered since the 2022 elections, culminating in a soap-opera-worthy feud where the elder Duterte lobbed drug accusations at Marcos, who in turn suggested it was "the fentanyl talking." Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte even called for Marcos to resign if he lacked love for the country. It’s a family affair, indeed, and one that has captivated the nation.
Sara Duterte’s decision to step down is seen by some as an opportunity for the Department of Education (DepEd) to welcome a leader from within the educational sector. ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro chimed in, "Sa wakas ay nagresign na din sa DepEd si VP Sara sana ay mas maaga niya ito ginawa para makapaglagay ng isang kalihim ng DepEd na galing talaga sa sektor ng edukasyon at alam ang kanyang ginagawa." Translation? "Finally, VP Sara resigned. She should have done this sooner so we could have a DepEd Secretary who actually knows what they're doing."
Despite her resignation, Duterte’s legacy at DepEd is a mixed bag. She spearheaded the implementation of the K-12 program and invested in infrastructure and teacher training. However, some critics argue that these efforts were not enough to address the systemic issues plaguing the educational sector. NiwRe Crisostomo Dela Cruz sarcastically noted, "Shang Shang yan ba yung laptop to notepad? kaganahan sa mga teacher??" referring to the ill-fated shift from laptops to notepads under her watch.
Speculation is rife about Duterte’s next political move. Many believe her resignation signals a strategic maneuver ahead of the 2025 elections, possibly eyeing a national office. As the drama unfolds, some are already rallying behind potential successors for the DepEd post. Jervs Lozada enthusiastically nominates, "I nominate Mayor Alice Guo as next DepEd Secretary," while Ian Cemacio comments on the newly formed opposition dynamics, "New opposition is now formed. It's now Duterte vs Marcos."
Amidst the speculations and jabs, Janice Pamolarcon perhaps sums it up best, "This is not the end...this is the start #kabahan na kayo #election 2025." Indeed, the resignation of Vice President Sara Duterte is not just an end but potentially the prologue to another gripping political saga in the lead-up to the 2025 elections.
As the nation watches this political drama unfold, one thing is clear: in the Philippine political arena, the real-life storylines are more compelling than any telenovela.
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