AMONG the Department of Education (DepEd) officials who submitted their resignations are Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Michael T. Poa, Undersecretary for Administration Nolasco A. Mempin, Assistant Secretary Sunshine A. Fajarda, Assistant Secretary for Procurement Reynold S. Munsayac, and Assistant Secretary for Administration Noel T. Baluyan.
According to Poa – it is only appropriate to give incoming DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara the freedom to choose the people who will be part of his agency.
“I think it is only appropriate to give the incoming Secretary of Education, Secretary Angara, a free hand to choose the people that will form part of his team,” according to Usec. Michael Poa, Chief of Staff, DepEd.
When asked if he will still serve under Vice President Sara Duterte’s leadership – Poa said he will wait for any instructions from the vice president.
“I will just wait for instructions from the Vice President, if any,” Poa added.
The resignation of said officials will be effective on July 19, 2024.
There is still no clear reason why VP Sara resigned as DepEd secretary.
VP Sara’s resignation as DepEd secretary, one reason why she won’t attend Marcos Jr.’s SONA
But according to a political analyst, her resignation could be a reason why Vice President Sara Duterte won’t attend President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address.
“Would you face the SONA if you already resigned and said on June 12 that UniTeam was only for the election? And on June 19 you said, “I will resign from DepEd”? Malou Tiquia, Political Strategist stated.
Marcos admin’s mistreatment possibly also a reason for VP Sara’s SONA absence
Tiquia also suggested that a possible reason for the vice president’s decision is the poor treatment she received from the Marcos administration.
“Would you attend the SONA if this administration doesn’t treat you well?”
“Why squeeze yourself into an administration that disrespects you? In my opinion, what she did was right,” Tiquia added.
Political strategist counters criticism of congressmen questioning VP Sara’s SONA absence
As for congressmen questioning Vice President Sara’s decision not to attend the SONA and claiming she lacks maturity, Tiquia responded:
“That’s not a sign of immaturity. One congressman said the vice president lacks maturity. You know maturity is the sum total of her acts. Not attending the third State of the Nation Address.”
“Your mandate as congressmen is probably 250,000 per district. Vice President 32 million, don’t embarrass her like that. And the vice president’s right not to attend, she won’t attend,” she stressed.
