Palace: Sara a 'complete failure' as education secretary

Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that the Philippines' education system is being left behind by other countries is simply a reflection of her "complete failure" as secretary of education, a Malacañang official said yesterday.

- By HELEN FLORES

Duterte headed the Department of Education for two years until 2024, and now her successor, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, is fixing the "huge mess" she left behind, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

"She was given the opportunity, the President trusted her from 2022 to 2024 to be DepEd secretary. She should have worked for almost two years (to fix) whatever she is complaining right now, she should have accomplished that during her time," Castro said at a press briefing.

"It only shows that her term as DepEd secretary is a complete failure," she said.

Duterte resigned in June last year as DepEd chief amid souring relations with the Marcoses.

She was impeached last year by the House of Representatives on various charges, including corruption and threatening the First Family with assassination.