VP Sara thankful for Marcos' continued trust

Vice President Sara Duterte thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday for his continued trust in her as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) despite her rift with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

Duterte issued the statement after Marcos said on Tuesday that he did not see any reason to replace her at DepEd.

“Maraming salamat, Pangulong Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., sa patuloy na pagtitiwala sa akin bilang Kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon,” Duterte said.

(Thank you very much, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., for your continued trust in me as Secretary of the Department of Education.)

“Makakaasa po kayo na ang DepEd, na binubuo ng ating mga guro at non-teaching personnel, ay patuloy na maglilingkod nang tapat para sa kinabukasan ng bawat mag-aaral,” she added.

(You can be assured that the DepEd, which is composed of teaching and non-teaching personnel, will continue to serve faithfully for the future of every student.)

The First Lady recently admitted having ill feelings towards Duterte after the latter's father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, called her husband "bangag" or high on drugs.

Liza Marcos said she took offense when she saw the Vice President laughing at the former president's remark at a rally in Davao City in late January to oppose efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution.

Rodrigo Duterte had alleged that the President was on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a claim immediately denied by PDEA.

While the Vice President acknowledged the sentiments of the First Lady, she said that the latter’s personal feelings have nothing to do with her mandate as the country’s second highest government official.

Any Cabinet secretary who is not doing his or her duties, is incompetent, or is corrupt will be replaced, the President said on Tuesday.

“Hindi naman ganoon si Inday, [Inday is not like that]'' he said, referring to the Vice President.

Asked if he would talk to the Vice President, his running mate in the 2022 elections, to patch things up, Marcos said, ''I don’t think we need to patch anything up. I think she understands, as I said, that, as a wife herself, she understands the sentiments of the First Lady.'' — VBL, GMA Integrated News