MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has no regrets running the Department of Education (DePed) during her two year-stint as she turned over the reins to former senator Juan Edgardo Angara who “hit the ground running” on Thursday.
“In fact, it is with a heavy heart that I will leave the Department of Education, minahal ko itong trabahong ito, minahal ko yung mga kasama ko sa DepEd, so, mayroon talaga akong regrets, dahil gusto ko talagang tapusin ang deliverables ng (Ferdinand R.) Marcos (Jr.) administration (I loved this job, I loved my colleagues in DepEd, so I really have regrets because I would have wanted to finish the deliverables of the Marcos administration),” Duterte said in a chance interview with reporters after the turnover ceremony.
Duterte said that her resignation was a combination of “personal,” “professional” and “political” reasons but did not elaborate, noting that it would take a “sit down” interview to discuss them
Speaking in Filipino, Duterte said the personal was between her and President Marcos which stemmed from “what we talked about before I agreed to handle DepEd, the other concerns work, and another for the country.”
She also denied that her rift with first lady Louise Marie Araneta-Marcos had something to do with her resignation.
Duterte is hopeful that Angara would continue some of her plans and projects at the DepEd, including the revision of the Senior High School curriculum and the DepEd Digital Classroom project.
In his speech at the turnover ceremony, Angara said that it was a “huge honor” for him to be selected by President Marcos to serve as education chief and vowed to do whatever it takes to achieve the reforms and changes needed in the education system in line with “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines).
“As we assume our role and start a new chapter for DepEd, we will hit the ground running and learn as we go. Allow us some time to dig deeper. In the coming days, we will outline our key priorities,” Angara said.
