Vice President Sara Duterte faced strong criticism from online users and social media influencers after she attributed the decline in school enrollment to protest rallies.
During her speech in Davao City on Monday, September 11, Duterte pointed to rallies as the cause behind a 2 million decrease in enrollment for the 2023–2024 school year. She made this statement in response to ACT Partylist Rep. France Castro, who had been questioning the Office of the Vice President’s confidential fund.
Duterte’s remarks ignited a backlash from netizens and social media figures who found her response lacking in logic.
Former PTV anchor Jules Guiang expressed disappointment in a tweet, initially holding higher expectations for the Vice President compared to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, but ultimately finding them to be on the same page.
“Kung anu-ano na lang talaga ang sinasabi niya ano? Kala ko pa naman better version siya ng tatay niya lol anong kinalaman ng rallies kaya nagkaroon ng drop-outs? Yang mga rallies na ‘yan ang isa sa mahahalagang dahilan kaya nagkaroon ng free tuition sa SUCs.”
Kung anu-ano na lang talaga ang sinasabi niya ano? Kala ko pa naman better version siya ng tatay niya lol anong kinalaman ng rallies kaya nagkaroon ng drop-outs? Yang mga rallies na ‘yan ang isa sa mahahalagang dahilan kaya nagkaroon ng free tuition sa SUCs. https://t.co/W9jQWb2Gkk
— Julliano Fernando Guiang (@julesguiang) September 14, 2023
Political analyst Richard Heydarian also chimed in, simply stating, “Iba!” without further elaboration.
Iba!!! pic.twitter.com/oE5qM3GG5P
— Richard Heydarian (@Richeydarian) September 14, 2023
Former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat took to Twitter as well, emphasizing that good governance involves acknowledging accountability and taking responsibility. He pointed out that a 2-million drop in enrollment signifies a shortage of teachers and school infrastructure, along with the persisting issues of poverty and hunger. He questioned the necessity of confidential funds for the Department of Education (DepEd), concluding with “Sayang” (a Filipino term for ‘what a waste’).
“Good governance is about accepting accountability and taking responsibility. A 2-M drop in enrollment means kulang sa teachers, school buildings. Andyan pa kahirapan at gutom. Really don’t know why confidential funds for DEPED needed. Sayang”
Good governance is about accepting accountability and taking responsibility. A 2-M drop in enrollment means kulang sa teachers, school buildings. Andyan pa kahirapan at gutom. Really don’t know why confidential funds for DEPED needed. Sayang https://t.co/7VUmEty3l2
— Teddy B. Baguilat (@TeddyBaguilatJr) September 14, 2023
Singer-activist Leah Navarro condemned Duterte for her unsettling statements.
“She really doesn’t care if her idiotic, arrogant and senseless pronouncements disgust people. She can do and say what she wants because she’s VP. Her voters gave her that power. Now their kids suffer the consequences. Do they care?”
She really doesn’t care if her idiotic, arrogant and senseless pronouncements disgust people. She can do and say what she wants because she’s VP. Her voters gave her that power. Now their kids suffer the consequences. Do they care? https://t.co/Sb8f8cpsfA
— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) September 14, 2023
Twitter personality and Duterte’s relative Nuelle Duterte meanwhile posted a serious question about the Vice President. She asked, “Serious question: does she know how to make a logical argument? Who were her law school teachers?”
https://twitter.com/nuelleduterte/status/1702093596785000699
Similarly, @justinmaniluh questioned whether Duterte’s statements were merely intended to deflect attention from addressing DepEd’s issues while targeting the opposition.
“Is the Vice President using the opposition to avoid legitimitate questions? Every start of the school year, in every administration, the drop or increase in enrolment is a question Ma’am, how about instead of a personal attack, how about tell us 1. What went wrong 2. What are the factors affecting drop 3. Proposed solutions. ”
“She’s looking for those two million students from me as if I kidnapped all of them and I don’t want them to study". -Vice President Duterte
Is the Vice President using the opposition to avoid legitimitate questions? Every start of the school year, in every administration, the… https://t.co/JSxKqyjzvk
— Just (@justinmaniluh) September 13, 2023
Here are other reactions from the netizens regarding VP Sara Duterte’s statement.
“May dalawang milyong nag-rally? Saan? Kelan? Bakit? Palabo na mg palabo ang mga statements nito ha,” @jclem3 tweeted.
May dalawang milyong nag-rally? Saan? Kelan? Bakit?
Palabo na mg palabo ang mga statements nito ha. https://t.co/izRUOtTsjp
— Jojo Clemente (@jclem3) September 14, 2023
“2,000,000 students are a lot. Kung totoo ngang dahil sa pag-aalsa kaya sila hindi nakapag-enroll, ibig sabihin wala palang silbi yung pagkamahal-mahal na intel ng gobyerno dahil wala man lang nakasagap agad. Hirap talaga kapag Education Secretary ka pero kinulang ka sa buwan,” @watdahel_marcel remarked.
2,000,000 students are a lot. Kung totoo ngang dahil sa pag-aalsa kaya sila hindi nakapag-enroll, ibig sabihin wala palang silbi yung pagkamahal-mahal na intel ng gobyerno dahil wala man lang nakasagap agad.
Hirap talaga kapag Education Secretary ka pero kinulang ka sa buwan. https://t.co/AFGZtpzYw0
— SLATER YOUNG PORK TOCINO (@Watdahel_MarceI) September 14, 2023
“NO. Children who drop out belong to the 14% of poorest households w/o access to digital learning at the peak of COVID-19, are displaced by conflict, or have struggled to keep up because textbooks aren’t enough and some classrooms (5000 of them) have no electricity, even,” @rupertnotholmes commented.
NO. Children who drop out belong to the 14% of poorest households w/o access to digital learning at the peak of COVID-19, are displaced by conflict, or have struggled to keep up because textbooks aren't enough and some classrooms (5000 of them) have no electricity, even. https://t.co/spFLvNHemL
— Rupert Francis not Bacon nor Magalona (@rupertnotholmes) September 14, 2023
“Sara Duterte, who is not a licensed teacher, rather than doing her job as Department of Education secretary (which she clearly knows nothing about) is instead looking for someone else to blame for her own failures. Duwag, inutil, bastos, at higit sa lahat, tanga si Sara Duterte,” @pmjamilla expressed.
Sara Duterte, who is not a licensed teacher, rather than doing her job as Department of Education secretary (which she clearly knows nothing about) is instead looking for someone else to blame for her own failures.
Duwag, inutil, bastos, at higit sa lahat, tanga si Sara Duterte. https://t.co/FgJeGXE9d9
— Philip Jamilla (@pmjamilla) September 14, 2023
“Tumigil ka! Tatay mo nga nag-utos na ipasara ang mga Lumad schools sa Mindanao kaya marami sa mga katutubo ang hindi nakapagpatuloy sa pag-aaral. Tatay mo ang presidente sa nakalipas na apat na taon, anong ginawa niya sa sektor ng edukasyon? Saan nagrally ang 2M na yan?,” @pads_nosi said.
Tumigil ka! Tatay mo nga nag-utos na ipasara ang mga Lumad schools sa Mindanao kaya marami sa mga katutubo ang hindi nakapagpatuloy sa pag-aaral.
Tatay mo ang presidente sa nakalipas na apat na taon, anong ginawa niya sa sektor ng edukasyon?
Saan nagrally ang 2M na yan? https://t.co/dKC386Jn2w
— Pari Koy (@pads_nosi) September 14, 2023
“She can’t even provide the data to prove her accusations. See how she talks like Lorraine Badoy?,” @rommelFLopez shared.
She can't even provide the data to prove her accusations.
See how she talks like Lorraine Badoy? https://t.co/ZUZfVlT3zn
— Rommel Lopez (@RommelFLopez) September 14, 2023
“Baka naman dahil kulang sa classroom, teacher at libro kaya bumagsak ang enrollment? Kasi kung 2 million ang nag rarally edi wala na kayo sa puwesto,” @saltandreality reacted.
https://twitter.com/SaltAndReality/status/1702110272532684816
