New DepEd chief Angara formally resigns from Senate

MANILA — Senator Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara has formally resigned from the Senate of the Philippines. 

Angara's letter was dated July 16 but received by the Office of  Senate President Francis Escudero only on July 18. 

Angara's resignation is in light of his forthcoming appointment as Secretary of the Department of Education.

Angara caps an 11-year run as Senator, having been elected in 2013 and then again in 2013.

"And in that period, I have been able to shepherd landmark legislation on making quality education and healthcare more accessible, increasing the take-home pay of our workers, increasing the social pensions of senior citizens, exempting PWDs from VAT, giving incentives to our national athletes and coaches, and providing bigger support to Tatak Pinoy industries, among many others," Angara said in his letter which was released to media by his Senate Media Relations Chief Dennis Legaspi.

"The portfolio that I will be taking on as DepEd Secretary is riddled with very serious challenges. But I am confident that with your support and of the rest of my colleagues at the Senate, these challenges are surmountable," Angara also said.

Angara replaces Vice President Sara Duterte as Education Secretary.

With Angara's resignation, the so-called Solid 7 bloc of former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri is down to just 6 members. That bloc considers itself an independent bloc within the Senate majority led by Senate President Escudero.