MALACANANG neither confirmed nor denied swirling speculation that Vice President Sara Duterte has sought a meeting with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated on Monday.
When pressed to address reports of a requested meeting between the country’s top two executives, Castro declined to validate or dismiss the claim, leaving the public to speculate on the state of their once-close alliance. The ambiguity has fueled intense interest, particularly amid the Vice President’s ongoing impeachment trial and deepening political rift between the Marcos and Duterte families.
Castro, however, clarified the President’s stance on reconciliation, emphasizing that Marcos remains open to mending fences broadly and not exclusively with the Duterte clan. “The President remains open to reconciliation with anyone — not just with the Dutertes,” Castro explained. The remark appears to broaden the scope of the President’s outreach, suggesting that willingness to reconcile is not limited to political allies or former partners, but extends across the political spectrum as a matter of national interest.
The carefully worded statement comes amid persistent rumors of a potential face-to-face meeting that could de-escalate tensions between the two highest officials of the land. By declining to confirm or deny the reported request, the Palace keeps all possibilities open while signaling that the President’s openness to unity is not conditional on family ties or political alliances. The public will continue to watch whether a meeting materializes, and whether it might lead to a thaw in relations or remain an unfulfilled overture.
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