FINDING a replacement for outgoing Vice President Sara Duterte at the Department of Education (DepEd) doesn’t seem difficult for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In fact, he must have already picked someone else to take the lead at the Department of Education (DepED). The President however opted to keep his or her identity on hold, at least for now.
Suspense-packed Marcos said that he will make an announcement any time this week as to whom he would assign to take the lead over the post which would be vacated by Duterte on July 19.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Marcos finds it imperative to name a replacement for the top DepEd post, adding that the agency should not be left without an overall leader.
When asked as to why Duterte resigned, Marcos said he has no idea.
”She didn’t give any reasons. I asked her, are there any particular reasons why she has chosen to resign from the Department of Education and the NTF-ELCAC, she said, ‘Huwag na lang natin pag-usapan’, so I did not force the issue,” Marcos told newsmen.
”Well we have to carry on and the Department of Education is quite possibly, arguably the most important department because education is that important, so no matter the change of leadership in the department, we still have to carry on, so we are now, I will probably be able to, I would like to be able to announce the appointment of the DepEd Secretary by the end of the week,” he continued.
Emphasizing on the importance of DepEd, Marcos admitted he already has a shortlist of people from where he would pick Duterte’s replacement.
”Minamadali ko lahat. Sinasabi ko bigyan niyo ko ng maraming pangalan. Ano ba yung gusto natin? What do we need? Tignan natin the status of the DepEd. What is now required, ano pa ba ang kailangan gawin?” Marcos further averred.
On June 19, Duterte personally went to the Palace to submit her irrevocable resignation as Education Secretary. On top of DepEd, she also gave up her seat as vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
Despite her resignation from the Cabinet, Duterte insisted that Marcos and herself remain friends. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
