Marcos on VP Duterte not rejoining Cabinet: ‘That’s her decision’

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seems to respect Vice President Sara Duterte’s decision to no longer rejoin his Cabinet after leaving her post as education secretary.

It was on the sidelines of the turnover ceremony at the headquarters of the Department of Education on Thursday when Duterte stated that she has no interest in serving the Marcos’ Cabinet again.

READ: VP Duterte: I will no longer serve in another Marcos Cabinet post

“Eh, that’s her decision,” Marcos responded to reporters asking him in a chance interview in Apayao what he thought about Duterte’s remark.

Duterte resigned as education secretary last June 19, effectively leaving Marcos’ Cabinet, and was then replaced by Senator Sonny Angara.

The Vice President then recently announced that she won’t be attending Marcos’ third State of the Nation Address on July 22, appointing herself as a “designated survivor,” a term that refers to an official, in the presidential line of succession, intentionally kept away from gatherings to ensure a replacement for the President in the event of a mass casualty incident.

While Duterte’s comment drew the ire of some lawmakers and the public alike, she defended it and accused critics of “missing the point.”

READ: VP Duterte on her ‘designated survivor’ remark: ‘Not a joke’

She refused, however, to further explain what she meant by the “designated survivor” tag.