VP Duterte thanks Pres. Marcos for trusting her as DepEd chief

MANILA, Philippines — Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte thanked President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday for his continued trust in her as the education secretary and for respecting her principles.

“Taos-puso po akong nagpapasalamat kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. para sa kanyang patuloy na tiwala at kompyansa sa akin bilang kalihim ng Kagawaran ng Edukasyon,” Duterte said in a statement.

(I thank President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wholeheartedly for his continued trust and confidence in me as secretary of education.)

“Nagpapasalamat din ako kay Apo BBM sa kanyang paggalang sa aking mga paninindigan,” she added.

(I also thank the President for respecting my principles.)

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Duterte also denounced rumors that money was being used as incentives for signing the people’s initiative to amend the 1987 Constitution, and urged that present problems of poverty, rising prices, and unemployment first addresses instead.

“[A]t sa halip na Charter change, lutasin muna natin ang kahirapan, mataas na presyo ng bilihin, kawalan ng trabaho at hanap-buhay, seguridad at marami pang ibang isyu na pasan-pasan ng mga Pilipino,” Duterte said.

(Instead of Charter change, let us first solve poverty, high prices of commodities, unemployment, security, and other issues that burden Filipinos.)

The vice-president likewise said that she respects the views and opinions of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as with her siblings, but said that it was not necessary that she agreed with their views and opinions.

“May respeto ako sa mga pananaw at opinyon ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte pati na ng aking mga kapatid. Ngunit, katulad ng posisyon ko sa maraming mga isyu, hindi kailangan na sumasang-ayon ako sa lahat ng mga ito. Pinalaki ako ng aking mga magulang na may pagpapahalaga sa malayang pag-iisip at pagpapasya,” she continued.

(I respect the views and opinions of former president Rodrigo Duterte and my siblings. But, like my position on  many issues, I dp not necessarily have agree with all of them. I was raised to value  free thinking and decision-making.)

Duterte also said that she will prioritize public service, education, and the country.

“Para sa akin, laging nangunguna ang katapatan ko sa paglilingkod sa bayan. Uunahin ko ang edukasyon ng ating kabataan at kapayapaan ng bayan. Uunahin ko ang Pilipinas,” she concluded.

(For me, my resolve to serve the country will always come first. I will prioritize the education of our youth and peace in our country. I will prioritize the Philippines.)