Palace claps back at VP Sara, says ‘lagging’ education system ‘mirrors DepEd stint’

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on August 20 slammed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the Philippine education system lags behind other countries and is stuck in “paper and pencil” learning, saying her complaints reflect her tenure as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary.

“Binigyan po siya ng pagkakataon, pinakatiwalaan siya ng Pangulo since 2022 hanggang 2024 para maging DepEd Secretary. Dalawang taon halos na siya ay dapat nagtrabaho,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

“Kung ano man ang kanyang inirereklamo ay dapat natupad sana niya ito sa kaniyang panahon [bilang DepEd secretary],” she added.

During the “Hakbang ng Maisug” event in Kuwait on August 15, Vice President Sara Duterte warned that Philippine education is “being left behind” as other nations modernize, with young children abroad already learning technology while Filipino students remain tied to “paper and pencil.”

The Palace officer went as far as saying that Duterte’s remarks only highlighted what she failed to address while leading DepEd, which she described as a “complete failure.”

“Sa kanyang reklamo ngayon nagre-reflect lamang, bilang siya ay naging DepEd secretary, ay complete failure,” the Palace official stated.

After assuming office in 2022, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed his UniTeam running mate, Vice President Duterte, as DepEd secretary.

In June 2024, Duterte resigned as education secretary and from the Cabinet after rifts escalated between their families, effectively ending the UniTeam alliance.

Castro also assured that incumbent Education Secretary Sonny Angara was already “taking care” of the backlogs and unaddressed issues left by the previous administration, including the 1.5 million gadgets under DepEd custody.

“Huwag pong mag-alala ang mga mag-aaral, mga guro, at teaching staff. Ang ating DepEd Sec. Sonny Angara ay nililinis kung ano ang dumi na naiwan ng nakaraan,” Castro explained.

“‘Yung 1.5 milyon na gadgets, laptops, at teaching materials ay ginawan na ng paraan ni Secretary Angara na nakabinbin lang nung 2020 na ‘di nagamit,” she added.

In response, Duterte questioned Castro’s remarks that her DepEd stint was a “complete failure,” saying Marcos urged her to stay when she submitted her resignation.

“He tried to ask me to stay. Tapos sabi ko ‘ayoko na … Ang sunod niyang ginawa, in-offer-an niya ako, may gusto ka ba na posisyon? Sabi ko wala akong gustong posisyon,” Duterte recounted during an interview on August 21 at The Hague, The Netherlands.

The vice president also emphasized that her remarks on the country’s education system were “true” and “covered by freedom of speech and expression.”

“That is true. That is an observation. That is a fact of the Philippines,” Duterte said.

“And I have all the right to say what the truth of our country is. That is covered by our freedom of speech and expression. So maybe no one should be angry. Because that is the truth of our country,” the vice president added.