Former Vice President Leni Robredo was criticized for meeting with Vice President Sara Duterte for an hour in Naga City on Friday.
In a post on X, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said it was a “wrong” move on Robredo’s part to accept Duterte’s request for a meeting.
He reminded Robredo about how Duterte was rude to their ally, Senator Risa Hontiveros.
“Ma’am Leni, we even want VP Sara impeached. She was rude to Senator Risa. Why did you meet with her? Are you siding with her?” he said.
“However you looked at it, that meeting was wrong,” Trillanes added.
Robredo’s former spokesman Barry Gutierrez said the visit was “personal and not political.”
“VP Leni was informed of the visit only minutes before when she was told that VP Sara was already on the way. The visit lasted for about an hour,” he said.
In a separate statement, the OVP said it was Duterte’s first time to experience the Peñafrancia fiesta as per the invitation of a Bicolano friend.
“The 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,” the OVP said.
On Saturday, Robredo was also visited by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Senator Bong Revilla.
“During the Peñafrancia, there are no political colors. Everyone is politically neutral. Everyone who visits for ‘Ina’ is welcome here with us. Ever since my husband became mayor in 1988, it had always been like this. Every time a guest goes to Naga with the intent of visiting ‘Ina,’ he or she is very much welcome here,” Robredo said.
