MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called for unity across political lines following his high-profile meeting with former rival and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, declaring that governance must take precedence over partisan differences amid intensifying speculation about the 2028 presidential race.
Marcos made the remarks in a social media post after sharing a video of his interaction with reporters during his visit to Naga City, where Robredo stood beside him — a rare public appearance together after their bitter 2022 presidential contest.
“Differences in politics should never prevent us from working together for our people,” Marcos said.
He reinforced the message with a pointed line: “Nation first. Personal agendas later,” underscoring his position that national interest must prevail over political divisions.
In a separate post, the President wrote: “Serve first. Argue later. Less noise. More nation-building.”
Malacañang earlier clarified that the meeting between Marcos and Robredo formed part of official duties and focused on governance concerns, not political maneuvering.
The optics of the encounter, however, quickly fueled political chatter. Robredo is widely seen as a potential contender in the 2028 presidential elections, where she could face Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, who has already publicly declared her intention to run.
Marcos sought to downplay any political undertones of the visit, even joking that his “most political” act during the trip was wearing pink socks — a color strongly associated with Robredo’s 2022 presidential campaign, in which she was defeated by Marcos.
The President’s remarks come at a time when political alignments for 2028 are beginning to take shape, placing renewed attention on how former rivals navigate cooperation in governance while future contests loom on the horizon./PN
