MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had a chance encounter with former Vice President Leni Robredo in an event in Sorsogon City on Thursday.
Based on videos that surfaced online, the two 2022 presidential elections rivals briefly shook hands at the holding area of the newly-opened Sorsogon Sports Arena.
Communications Secretary Cesar Chavez, who was also in the event with Marcos, said Robredo welcomed the President at the entrance of the venue.
“She welcomed the President at the entrance of the sports arena. Katabi ni former VP Leni si former senator Bam Aquino sa pag-welcome kay PBBM,” Chavez said.
Lawyer Barry Gutierrez, who serves as Robredo’s spokesperson, said the former Vice President was present upon the invitation of Sen. Francis Escudero.
“VP Leni is there, after all, upon the invitation of SP Escudero, who has been very supportive of Naga,” Gutierrez said in a short statement.
Escudero, for his part, said he invited Robredo to welcome the Chief Executive on behalf of the Bicol region.
Robredo defeated Marcos by 263,473 votes in the 2016 vice presidential race. Marcos protested before the Supreme Court, which upheld Robredo’s victory in 2020.
The two faced each other anew in the 2022 presidential elections where Marcos won convincingly over Robredo, 31,629,783 to the latter’s 15,035,773./PN
