June 19, 2024 - In a surprising turn of events, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte has officially submitted her resignation as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Vice Chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). The resignation, effective July 19, 2024, was tendered at 2:21 pm today, June 19, 2024, during her visit to Malacañang.
Despite stepping down from her cabinet roles, Vice President Duterte will continue to serve in her capacity as Vice President of the Philippines. The move marks the end of the political alliance that propelled President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte to their respective positions after winning the 2022 elections by a landslide.
The Duterte-Marcos partnership, often described as a “marriage of convenience,” faced challenges throughout its tenure. Notably, Vice President Duterte had a feud with Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos. This tension was reflected in the House of Representatives’ decision to deny Duterte’s request for confidential funds in the 2024 budget.
Additionally, President Marcos’s government explored the possibility of rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating the controversial drug war initiated by Duterte’s father, former President Rodrigo Duterte. While Marcos indicated openness to ICC jurisdiction, he also clarified that his administration would not fully recognize the court’s authority over the Philippines.
The strained relationship between the Duterte and Marcos families further intensified when First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos expressed her displeasure after witnessing Vice President Duterte laugh at her father’s insinuation that Marcos was under the influence of drugs.
As the nation processes this unexpected resignation, we extend our gratitude to Vice President Sara Duterte for her service and await further developments in Philippine politics.