Shekinah Jedidiah M. Alima

Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as the Department of Education (Deped) secretary but refused to disclose the reason, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Wednesday.

Photo Courtesy of Youtube/Rappler.

PCO secretary Cheloy Garafil also confirmed that Duterte stepped down as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) at 2:21 p.m. the same day, which will be effective on July 19.

She will continue to serve as the Vice President of the Philippines.

“She declined to give a reason why. She will continue to serve as Vice President. We thank her for her service,” Garafil said. 
 
Shortly after her resignation, Duterte held a press conference at 3:00 p.m. the same day, reiterating her decision to keep the reasons for her resignation private. 

“Mga kababayan, ang aking pagbibitiw ay hindi lulan ng kahinaan, kundi dala ng tunay na malasakit para sa ating mga guro at kabataang Filipino,” Duterte said.

She also reassured the public that improving the country's education quality will remain a top priority, even in her absence from Deped.

“Bagamat hindi ako magpapatuloy na mamamahala sa kagawaran, patuloy pa rin nating itataguyod ang kalidad ng edukasyon na nararapat para sa Filipino,” she added.

Duterte was appointed a Cabinet member by her ‘UniTeam’ running-mate, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

She was assigned as the education agency chief on May 11, 2022, and assumed her post on June 30 of the same year.