Malacañang on Monday addressed reports circulating over the weekend that Vice President Sara Duterte had requested a private meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stating that while it could not confirm the rumor, the Chief Executive remains open to dialogue with anyone.
“Wala po tayong makukumpirma patungkol po diyan dahil wala naman din pong ibinababa sa atin na anumang impormasyon kung mayroon nga ganiyang kaganapan (We cannot confirm anything about that because no information has been relayed to us that such an event took place),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing.
When asked whether the President would be inclined to grant a private sit-down if requested, Castro noted that the query was hypothetical. However, she underscored the administration’s standing posture on dialogue.
“Ang sabi ng Pangulo sa una pa lang niyang podcast, kahit sino, sa lahat nang maaaring hindi sumasang-ayon sa kaniya, siya ay bukas upang makipag-usap para magkaroon ng magandang pagkakaintindihan (As the President said in his very first podcast, he is open to talking to anyone, including those who may disagree with him, so that they can come to a better understanding),” Castro said.
She clarified that this openness is not exclusive to the Vice President. “Sa lahat ng kababayan natin, sa lahat ng tao ay open ang Pangulo (The President is open to everyone, to all people),” she added.
Marcos and Duterte ran alongside each other under the UniTeam coalition during the 2022 elections, but their political alliance deteriorated following Duterte’s resignation from the Cabinet.
Duterte is currently facing an impeachment trial before the Senate over allegations involving the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and alleged grave threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.