Marcos Jr. meets Leni at Sorsogon event
MANILA, Philippines — Years after the political landscape was shaken by the bitter exchanges between their supporters, President Marcos and erstwhile political rival, former vice president Leni Robredo, shook hands in Sorsogon, a development seen by Senate President Francis Escudero as the start of “healing.”
Robredo was among the prominent personalities who welcomed Marcos yesterday during the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena, a four-story facility that can accommodate up to 20,000 people and can serve as a venue for international and local events.
She was accompanied by former senator Bam Aquino, who served as her campaign manager during the 2022 presidential race, which saw Marcos winning by landslide with more than 31 million votes. Robredo was Marcos’ closest rival during that election, garnering more than 15 million votes.
Clad in pink polo, her campaign color two years ago, Robredo smiled as she shook hands and briefly exchanged greetings with Marcos. After the very brief interaction, Marcos greeted and hugged House Deputy Speaker and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, one of the senatorial bets of the administration coalition for the 2025 midterm polls.
“I invited her (Robredo) to welcome the President (on) behalf of Bicol,” Escudero said.
According to Escudero, who served as governor of Sorsogon, the encounter between Marcos and Robredo was “symbolic,” noting that he too was an opponent of the two political figures.
“Remember, we were rivals in 2016, if you remember, for vice president. They (Marcos and Robredo) ran for president in 2022. VP (Vice President) Leni won in 2016, if you recall, while President Marcos won in 2022 as president. So the three of us, actually, have a history,” the Senate president said.
“For me, that is symbolic because we were together in a sports arena, an odd trio. Maybe politicians can learn something from what happened in the sports coliseum of Sorsogon. In politics, we have to remember, even in sports, to follow the rules and regulations, to accept gracefully whoever wins,” he added.
Escudero said Marcos and Robredo did not talk about anything but expressed belief that their interaction would start the “healing of
