President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed his understanding of Vice President Sara Duterte's decision to resign from the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) political party.
Duterte, who served as the party's chairperson since November 2021 and ran as vice president under its banner in the 2022 elections, announced her irrevocable resignation citing her desire to avoid distractions from her duties.
Marcos, in an interview in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, acknowledged Duterte's straightforwardness, interpreting her resignation as a clear indication of her commitment to her extensive workload.
"Alam mo naman si Inday Sara, she’s very plain-spoken. Kung ano yung sinabi niya, ‘yun ang ibig sabihin nya. She has too much work to do. She cannot be involved in any of this, she cannot allow herself to be distracted, that’s the way I read it," he said.
The President highlighted that aside from her vice presidential role, Duterte also serves as the Secretary of the Department of Education and was recently appointed as the co-vice chairperson of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
Given the multitude of responsibilities she faces, President Marcos understood her decision to prioritize her work and refrain from getting involved in ongoing political matters.
He recognized the importance of Duterte's statement, emphasizing her commitment to tackling crucial tasks.
"Kung titingnan mo kung ano ‘yung mga hinaharap niya, talagang marami talaga at hindi siya pwede to be involved in whatever it is that’s going on, she has to concentrate on her job. Marami talaga siyang gagawin so I can understand why sasabihin niya, ‘oh sige, ayusin niyo na muna yan, gagawin ko na muna itong mga importanteng gagawin'," the president added.
Vice President Duterte's resignation from Lakas-CMD followed the demotion of Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, a close ally of Duterte, from the position of House deputy speaker.
