MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seems to respect Vice President Sara Duterte鈥檚 decision to no longer rejoin his Cabinet after leaving her post as education secretary.
It was on the sidelines of the turnover ceremony at the headquarters of the Department of Education on Thursday when Duterte stated that she has no interest in serving the Marcos鈥� Cabinet again.
READ: VP Duterte: I will no longer serve in another Marcos Cabinet post
鈥淓h, that鈥檚 her decision,鈥� Marcos responded to reporters asking him in a chance interview in Apayao what he thought about Duterte鈥檚 remark.
Duterte resigned as education secretary last June 19, effectively leaving Marcos鈥� Cabinet, and was then replaced by Senator Sonny Angara.
The Vice President then recently announced that she won鈥檛 be attending Marcos鈥� third State of the Nation Address on July 22, appointing herself as a 鈥渄esignated survivor,鈥� a term that refers to an official, in the presidential line of succession, intentionally kept away from gatherings to ensure a replacement for the President in the event of a mass casualty incident.
While Duterte鈥檚 comment drew the ire of some lawmakers and the public alike, she defended it and accused critics of 鈥渕issing the point.鈥�
READ: VP Duterte on her 鈥榙esignated survivor鈥� remark: 鈥楴ot a joke鈥�
She refused, however, to further explain what she meant by the 鈥渄esignated survivor鈥� tag.