FILE PHOTO: Vice President Leni Robredo gives a post-election statement from her home in Magarao, Camarines Norte in the early hours of Tuesday, May 10, 2022. 鈥� On September 21, 2024, Robredo said that no political color is given to visits of politicians during the Pe帽afrancia Festival. In an interview with reporters, Robredo addressed conjectures regarding the visit of some current government officials and politicians 鈥� some with apparent plans to run in next year鈥檚 midterm elections 鈥� to her home in Naga City during the religious celebration. (File photo from VP Leni Media Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former Vice President Leni Robredo said that no political color is given to visits of politicians during the Pe帽afrancia Festival.
In an interview with reporters, addressed conjectures regarding the visit of some current government officials and politicians 鈥� some with apparent plans to run in next year鈥檚 midterm elections 鈥� to her home in Naga City during the religious celebration.
Among Robredo鈥檚 visitors on Friday and Saturday were Vice President Sara Duterte, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Sen. Ramon 鈥淏ong鈥� Revilla Jr. This year鈥檚 weeklong Pe帽afrancia Festival, which marks the centenary of the canonical coronation of Our Lady of Pe帽afrancia, started on September 13.
鈥溾�橮ag Pe帽afrancia [Festival] dito sa amin, wala namang kulay ng pulitikang tinitingnan. (During Pe帽afrancia festival here in our place, we don鈥檛 look at political colors),鈥� she said.
READ: VP Sara Duterte visited Leni Robredo in Naga, Gutierrez confirms
鈥淲alang partido, politically neutral dito lahat, lahat ng pumupunta para kay Ina [Our Lady of Pe帽afrancia] ay welcome dito sa amin,鈥� Robredo also said.
(No political parties, everyone here is politically neutral. Everyone who comes for Ina [Our Lady of Pe帽afrancia] is welcome here with us.)
鈥淢ula nung naging mayor ang asawa ko nung 1988, every time na may bisita ang Naga na si Ina ang sadya, very much welcome dito sa amin,鈥� she added.
(Since my husband became mayor in 1988, every time Naga has visitors coming for Ina, they are always very much welcome here with us.)
On Friday, the former vice president issued a statement regarding Duterte鈥檚 visit and said that their conversation was 鈥減ersonal and not political.鈥�
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) likewise released a statement Friday, saying Duterte, a successor of Robredo as vice president, was invited by a friend to Naga City to experience the Pe帽afrancia Festival.
The OVP also said the same friend arranged a casual meeting between Duterte and Robredo.
READ: Former VP Leni Robredo to run for Naga City mayor
Earlier, several news outfits reported seeing Duterte at the Bicol International Airport on Friday morning (September 20).
Robredo and Duterte were from the opposing sides of the political spectrum. Robredo was a known stalwart of the Liberal Party, the opposition during the administration of Duterte鈥檚 father, Rodrigo. Robredo, however, ran for president under Angat Buhay party in the 2022 elections.
Duterte, on the other hand, ran for vice president in tandem with Robredo鈥檚 political rival, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., under the UniTeam.
Robredo and Marcos ran against each other for the vice presidency in the 2016 elections. Robredo beat Marcos.
In the 2022 polls, Robredo and Marcos had another round of contest 鈥� this time for the presidency. Marcos won to become the 17th president of the Philippines.