Vice President Sara Duterte confirmed that she plans to meet with former Vice President and now Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo.
Speaking to the media during her visit to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, in The Hague, Netherlands, Duterte said she intends to see Robredo when she returns to the Philippines this month for the Peñafrancia Festival in the Bicol Region.
“We haven’t finalized the schedule yet, but yes, we would like to meet not only the officials of Naga but also those across the entire Bicol Region if time permits,” the Vice President said.
She added: “But mainly, we are going there to celebrate and pray with the Bicolanos during their biggest festival, the Peñafrancia.”
Apart from Robredo, Duterte also revealed plans to meet with other local officials in the region.
It can be recalled that Duterte previously visited Robredo at her residence in Naga City last year, a move criticized by several netizens and Robredo allies, including former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV — a longtime political nemesis of the Duterte family.
Meanwhile, Duterte declined to give further details on the condition of her father, citing restrictions imposed by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“All I can say is that President Duterte is still alive. That’s it. We were reminded that we’re not allowed to share what happens or what we talk about during our visits,” she said.
VP Duterte also confirmed that preparations are underway for former President Duterte’s first ICC hearing, scheduled for September 23 (Tuesday).