Vice President Leni Robredo and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte. FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Vice President Sara Duterte was invited by a friend to Naga City, Camarines Sur to experience the Pe帽afrancia Festival on Friday, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said.
The same friend arranged a casual meeting between Duterte and former Vice President Leni Robredo.
鈥淰ice President Sara Z. Duterte is excited to experience her first-ever Pe帽afrancia fiesta. She was invited by a Bicolano friend to attend the centennial anniversary mass of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Pe帽afrancia on September 20,鈥� OVP鈥檚 statement read.
鈥淭he same friend also arranged a casual meeting with former Vice President Leni Robredo. During her stay in Naga, Vice President Duterte visited several prominent Bicol personalities and heard mass with ordinary Bicolanos. She neither looked desperate nor distressed,鈥� it added.
Robredo鈥檚 spokesperson when she was at the OVP, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, confirmed that the two met in Naga.
According to Gutierrez, Robredo learned of Duterte鈥檚 impending visit just minutes before she was informed that Duterte was on her way.
鈥淰P Sara visited former VP Leni at her house. VP Leni learned of the visit minutes before when she was informed that VP Sara was already on the way,鈥� Gutierrez said in a message to reporters.
鈥淭he visit lasted for about an hour. The conversation was personal and not political,鈥� he added.
Earlier, Gutierrez also sent a statement from Robredo.
鈥淲hile she was in Naga City for the Penafrancia Festival, VP Sara Duterte聽 took the opportunity to visit me at my home. The conversation we had was personal and not political,鈥� Robredo said.
READ: VP Sara Duterte visited Leni Robredo in Naga, Gutierrez confirms
Robredo and Duterte have been on the opposing ends of the political spectrum, with Robredo running for president under the Angat Buhay lineup in the 2022 national elections, while Duterte was the running mate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the Uniteam banner.
READ: VP Duterte: No idea why Robredo didn鈥檛 request for fair budget
Duterte and Robredo have been known to be friends even before 2016, when Duterte鈥檚 father, then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, was elected president.
In December 2015, Robredo said she hoped politics would not ruin their relationship as Robredo ran for vice president in 2016 with then-presidential bet Mar Roxas.
鈥淚 hope politics will not ruin our friendship,鈥� Robredo said after visiting then Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
鈥淢agkaibigan kami (We鈥檙e friends),鈥� Robredo told reporters. 鈥淓ven before, when I come [to Davao], I always find time to talk to her. She was mayor when my husband was DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) secretary. So we鈥檙e friends,鈥� she said.
READ: Leni and Sara Duterte: Friendship beyond politics