Nagbitiw si Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte bilang miyembro ng Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party. "Irrevocable" ang kaniyang pagbibitiw at epektibo ngayong Biyernes.
Bagaman hindi tinukoy ni Duterte ang dahilan ng kaniyang pagbibitiw, sinabi niya sa inilabas na pahayag na hindi niya hahayaang malason ng "political toxicity" o "execrable political powerplay" ang tiwalang ipinagkaloob sa kaniya ng mga Filipino.
"I am here today because of the trust of the Filipino people in me to lead and serve them and the country," ayon kay Duterte na chairperson ng Lakas bago siya nagbitiw.
"I call on all leaders to focus on the work that must be done and leave a legacy of a strong and stable homeland," dagdag ng pangalawang pangulo.
Binigyan-diin niya ang kahalagahan na pagsilbihan ang mga Filipino sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
"Trust that my word, my commitment will be immutable," dagdag niya.
Sa inilabas na pahayag ni Lakas-CMD Secretary General at Agusan del Norte Representative Joboy Aquino, sinabi nito na nauunawaan nila ang pasya ni Duterte.
Pinasalamatan din nila si Duterte sa panahon na kasama nila ito sa Lakas.
"We thank Vice President Sara Duterte for the services she rendered to our party, the Lakas-CMD, as party chair, and for helping us build a Unity (United) Team aimed at bringing meaningful change to Philippine society,” ani Aquino.
"As we respect her decision, we understand her reason for leaving the political party. We also support her call for all political leaders to unite in support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and for all of us to work for the success of this administration for the benefit of our people," patuloy ng mambabatas.
Nangyari ang pagbibitiw ni Duterte matapos na palitan ni Pampanga Rep. Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales, Jr. bilang Senior Deputy Speaker si Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Kasunod nito ay itinanggi ni Arroyo na nagbabalak siyang patalsikin sa puwesto si Speaker Martin Romualdez. --FRJ, GMA Integrated News