By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Vice President Sara Duterte’s resignation as Education Secretary and National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) vice chairperson will not have any impact on local politics.

“Our politics are local, and our condition remains to be strong. Definitely, the resignation of our Education Secretary will not affect our local politics,” Lacson said.

He said it was difficult to make a statement without an official explanation from Duterte herself.

“So maybe we should wait for an official statement,” he said.

Lacson said that the resignation is clear evidence of a growing divide within the UniTeam coalition, the campaign team of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Duterte during the 2022 national elections.

“Well, it’s becoming clearer now that there’s already a separation,” Lacson said.

“The UniTeam is no longer unified. Meaning to say, part of the team has already shown that they’re separating from the administration,” he added.

The governor said many members of the UniTeam are still part of the coalition, citing their continued collaboration with other national parties.

Duterte resigned as Education Secretary and NTF-ELCAC vice chairperson on Wednesday, June 19, the Presidential Communications Office said.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Duterte said her resignation was not due to weakness, but out of concern for teachers and students./JB, WDJ