Vice President Sara Duterte visited former Vice President Leni Robredo during her trip to Naga for the Peñafrancia fiesta on Friday.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP), in an official statement, confirmed the visit and stated that it was a casual meeting arranged by Duterte's friend.
"Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is excited to experience her first-ever Peñafrancia fiesta. She was invited by a Bicolano friend to attend the centennial anniversary mass of the Canonical Coronation of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on September 20. The same friend also arranged a casual meeting with former Vice President Leni Robredo," the statement read.
The OVP stated that Duterte was able to visit several prominent Bicol personalities and attend mass with ordinary Bicolanos, all while appearing neither "desperate" nor "distressed."
Meanwhile, Barry Gutierrez, the former spokesperson for Robredo, reiterated that the said meeting was personal and not political.
Robredo was informed of the visit only minutes beforehand when she was told that Duterte was already on her way.
"Dumiretso sa bahay ng biglaan. Tinanggap niya ng maayos. Nag-usap- hindi tungkol sa pulitika. Kuwentuhan hindi meeting. Umalis. Tapos," Gutierrez said in a X post on Friday.
"Hindi ko gusto ang pulitika ni Sara Duterte. Pero tama lang na magalang siyang tinanggap ni VP Leni," he added.
The Dutertes are strong critics of the opposition Liberal Party, of which Robredo is a member.
According to the Liberal Party, Robredo will run for the mayoralty position in Naga in the 2025 elections.
