Davao City, Philippines — In a surprising move today, Sara Duterte tendered her resignation from her positions as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Vice Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), citing personal reasons and a desire to focus on other endeavors.
Duterte, who assumed office as DepEd Secretary just over a year ago, submitted her resignation letter to President Ferdinand Marcos early Wednesday.
According to PCO Secretary Cheloy Garafil, President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. accepted Duterte’s resignation, which is effective Friday, July 19.
Garafil said Duterte had declined to provide a reason why she quit her post.
As Vice Chairperson of NTF-ELCAC, Duterte played a pivotal role in the government’s efforts to address insurgency issues in the country.
Her departure from this role marks a significant transition within the task force, which has been at the forefront of counterinsurgency operations and community development projects aimed at addressing the root causes of armed conflict.
President Duterte, in accepting her resignation, lauded Sara Duterte for her dedication and contributions to both the education sector and the national security efforts. He expressed confidence that she will continue to serve the Filipino people in whatever capacity she chooses next.
Meanwhile, the President assured the public that the government would swiftly appoint capable individuals to fill the vacancies left by Duterte’s resignation.
The selection process for the new DepEd Secretary and NTF-ELCAC Vice Chairperson is expected to prioritize individuals with proven track records in education management and counterinsurgency operations, respectively.
Sara Duterte’s decision to step down from her roles comes amidst speculations about her political plans leading up to the upcoming national elections. As the daughter of President Duterte, her future political aspirations have been a subject of intense speculation and anticipation among supporters and political observers alike.
With her resignation now official, attention now turns to who will succeed her in these critical government positions, and what lies ahead for Sara Duterte as she ponders her next steps in public service and beyond.
