VP SARA URGED TO CONSIDER STEPPING DOWN FROM DEPED

A LAWMAKER has called for Vice President Sara Duterte to step down as secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), citing a need for accountability and decency.

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua said VP Sara cannot have the best of both worlds by being a fence sitter while her family and their allies challenge the authority and mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while having little to show for in terms of substantive results at the DepEd, where she is Secretary.

“The Vice President should show some decency by resigning from her DepEd post at the very least,” Chua said.

The Manila solon criticized Duterte for remaining passive amidst a series of verbal attacks on the President by her family, accusing her of enjoying the privileges of her office at the same time.

“Her family unleashed a barrage of insults and attacks directly to the President, and yet she does nothing and is still enjoying the perks of being part of the official family,” Chua said.

“She should draw the line instead of pretending to be a full partner of the President,” he added.

The lawmaker also highlighted Duterte’s silence on the Chinese territorial encroachments in the West Philippine Sea.

“VP Duterte has been woefully silent as our sovereignty and national patrimony in the West Philippine Sea and EEZ have been challenged with ship blockades and aggressive maneuvers against our fisherfolk, Coast Guard, BFAR, and NAMRIA,” the solon said.

He criticized her educational initiatives, particularly “Catch-Up Fridays” at DepEd schools, as ineffective and unproductive.

“The so-called Catch-Up Fridays at DepEd schools have been a waste of time with no real results to show,” Chua said.

 “Learning deficits from the pandemic are worsened by the continuing resort to modules and online classes which were ineffective during the pandemic and are still ineffective now,” the Manila lawmaker further said.