VP-elect Sara Duterte to focus on DepEd role

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 18) — Vice President-elect Sara Duterte said she would "mostly" focus on her duties as secretary of the Department of Education when she assumes national office.

"I will mostly be with the Department of Education since yun ang critical sa atin ngayon [since that is critical to us now] especially now that we are coming out of the pandemic," Duterte told reporters on Sunday.

President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced Duterte would take on the role as Education chief last month  one of his first announcements of nominees for his Cabinet.

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Duterte spoke to media as preparations for her oath-taking on Sunday were underway.

She said her inaugural speech would be "very short" owing to the unpredictability of the weather.

"We do not control the weather, so we do not know what will happen in terms of weather so it will be very short and it will focus on the messages I gave on the campaign reiterating what we should do as a country," she explained.

In the same interview, Duterte said she has not asked organizers as to who will attend her oath-taking.

It was earlier confirmed that her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, and former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo would be present.

She also said family members would see her take her oath.

"Basically it's the immediate family and the extended family from both the Zimmerman, Duterte and Carpio families," she said.

Duterte spent the morning at the Davao City Hall as foreign envoys paid her a courtesy call. Among her visitors was German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel, who later shared a photo of her and the Vice President-elect on Twitter.

She was also scheduled to attend the oath-taking ceremonies of mayors Saturday afternoon.

While Duterte will take her oath on June 19, her term of office can only start at noon of June 30, as stated in the Constitution.

Until then, Duterte said she would spend time in Davao City to say goodbye to city employees as well as administer oaths to other elected officials and patry lists.

"I will do the transition meeting with the Department of Education, Sec. (Leonor) Briones, and then I will attend the inaugration of President Marcos," she shared.