Who is Sara Duterte? Philippine Vice President resigns from President Marcos' cabinet

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday (June 19) resigned from the Cabinet of President Ferdinand Marcos, said the presidential palace.

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Cheloy Garafilsaid Duterte has "tendered her resignation as member of the cabinet" and will no longer serve as secretary of education. However, shewould continue as vice president.

She has also quit as the vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).Her resignation, as per reports, is effective July 19.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO)Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Duterte has declined to provide a reason for why she quit her post. The presidential office hasn't announced Duterte's replacement as the DepEd Secretary.

However, at a separate press conference, Duterte stated that her "resignation is not because of weakness but because of true concern for teachers and the youth."

Who is Sara Duterte?

Sara Duterte is the daughter of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who was blocked by the constitution from seeking a second term in 2022.

This sudden move, as per Reuters, indicates a major fallout with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and the end of their alliance.

The Marcos and Duterte families formed a strategic alliance in 2022. Sara Duterte ran as Marcos' vice-presidential candidate, tapping into the Duterte family's strong support base and sealing a political comeback for the Marcos dynasty.

In the Philippines, however, the president and vice-president are elected separately, allowing room for political friction. Though the alliance's eventual collapse was expected, the speed of the fallout surprised analysts.

Earlier this year, former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara's father, accused Marcos of using drugs, further straining relations. Additionally, Duterte's son, the mayor of Davao City, had called for Marcos's resignation.

Jean Encinas-Franco, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, commented on Duterte's resignation, saying, "It is the break we have all been waiting for."

(With inputs from agencies)