ON the afternoon of June 19, 2024, the 163rd birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, Vice President Sara Duterte tendered her irrevocable resignation as secretary of education and as co-vice chairman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict, effective July 19, 2024. Duterte said she planed to lay down a 30-day transition plan for a smooth and orderly turnover of her duties in the offices she used to head. No reason for her irrevocable resignation was given in her letter addressed to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.

Upon hearing the news, I asked a fellow historian, Dr. Efren Isorena, to join me as a guest in my radio talk show at DZRJ 810 AM to discuss Duterte's resignation from the Marcos administration.