Barry Gutierrez, the former spokesperson for then Vice President Leni Robredo, reiterated that the meeting between Vice President Sara Duterte and Robredo in Naga City during the Peñafrancia fiesta celebration was not planned ahead of time.
In an interview with DZRH for Isyung Pambayan, Gutierrez stated that an hour before Duterte's arrival, someone called to inform them that Duterte was already on her way.
He mentioned that Robredo had no choice but to accommodate Duterte, just as she does every year during the Peñafrancia fiesta when hosting guests at her home, emphasizing that their conversation had nothing to do with politics.
"Ngayon [ay] dumalaw, usap. Pero syempre in-expect na natin na magkakaroon ng kung ano-anong mga spekulasyon. Lalo na at medyo mainit ang pulitika sa kasalukuyan," Gutierrez said.
"Pero ang katotohanan, dumalaw lang. Hindi ito nakaset in advance na meeting. Biglaan. Si VP Leni medyo nagulat nga. Nagpunta sa bahay niya. At ang pinag-usapan nila ay walang kinalaman sa pulitika," he further explained.
Based on other information, Rex Villegas was the one who called Robredo to arrange Duterte's visit. Villegas served as the Presidential Assistant on Bicol Affairs during the previous Duterte administration.
Meanwhile, Robredo's camp did not dismiss the possibility that Duterte's visit to Naga may have had some intention behind it.
Gutierrez remarked that Duterte's sudden visit to the former vice president was surprising. He added that in 2016, Duterte did not meet with Robredo to facilitate the transition in the Office of the Vice President (OVP); instead, only her staff were present.
"Syempre hindi naman mawawala sa isip namin na ‘yung pagpunta doon ay may intension na palabasin na mayroong niluluto," said Gutierrez.
"Kasi kataka-taka eh. Pagtapos ng walong taon, bigla na lang pupunta ng biglaan at obviously na alam na maraming tao na makakaalam ng dalaw na ‘yon at obviously maraming magtatanong," he added.
Gutierrez assured that it was simply a reception for a guest attending the fiesta.
"Sa panig naman ni VP Leni, klaro. Para sa kanya, may bisitang dumalaw. Tinanggap niya. Pinag-usapan nila wala namang patungkol sa pulitika. Wala namang patungkol sa eleksyon. So hanggang doon na lang ‘yon," Gutierrez reiterated.
As per Gutierrez's recollection, the last interaction between the two took place in 2016 in Davao when Robredo was campaigning for the vice presidential position.
