Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero described the short meeting between President Marcos and former vice president Leni Robredo as “symbolic,” saying it was a gesture that most politicians could learn from.

Escudero said this after Robredo was among those who greeted and shook hands with Marcos when he arrived at the Sorsogon Sports Arena for its inauguration on Thursday, Oct. 17.

In an interview, the Senate President told Malacañang reporters that the three of them sharing a moment was “symbolic” after being rivals in the political arena. Escudero, Marcos, and Robredo all ran for vice president in 2016, a position that eventually went to Robredo.

“Para sa akin symbolic yun dahil sa sports arena kami nagkasama-sama— ang odd trio (For me it is symbolic because we, the odd trio, met here at the sports arena),” Escudero said.

The 2022 political rivals, however, did not get to talk.

“Nagbatian lamang sila. Tingin ko ito ay unang hakbang tungo sa paghilom ng kung ano mang sugat, ano mang hindi pagkakaunawaan (They just exchanged pleasantries. I think this is the first step toward healing whatever wound or misunderstanding they have),” Escudero said.

“Dahil alalahanin ninyo, ano mang debate o pagkakaiba namin ng pananaw ay politikal, hindi personal. So mas madaling mahilom yun kesa personal na bangayan ang nangyari (Remember, our differences are political, not personal. So that’s easier to cure),” he added.

Still, Escudero believes the short exchange between his former rivals is something politicians could learn from.

“Ika nga, sa karera ng politika, alalahanin natin ang pagiging sportsman— yung pagsunod sa rules and regulations at yung pagtanggap nang maluwag kung sino ang magwawagi (As they say, in politics, let us practice sportsmanship— following the rules and regulations and wholeheartedly accepting the result of the competition),” he said.

According to the Senate President, he invited Robredo to join them as she is a Bicolana and he toured her in Sorsogon’s museum, the People’s Mansion, and their provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.

He added that it was Robredo’s choice to wait for President Marcos.

“Maraming inimbita, umalis lang agad, di na nakapaghintay. Si VP Leni, minabuti na hintayin na ang pagdating ni Pangulong Marcos para i-welcome din siya (We invited a lot of people but they left early. Former vice president Robredo opted to stay and wait for the President to welcome him),” Escudero explained.

“Pero kilala niyo naman si VP Leni, ayaw niyang umeksena at pinagpasya kung ano lang ang nais niyang gawin (But you know her, she doesn’t like hogging the limelight so I let her decide what she wanted to do),” he added.

Escudero said Robredo was supposed to sit with them on stage but had to leave as she was running late for her next commitment in Naga where she will be running for mayor in 2025.

“Hinintay lamang talaga niya na dumating si Pangulong Marcos bago siya tuluyang tumulak pabalik ng Naga (She just waited for President Marcos before she left for Naga),” he said.

“Wala naman siyang eroplano o chopper. So kotse lang saka tatlong oras yun eh. So nagpasiguro lang siya (She didn’t use a plane or a chopper. It’s a three-hour car ride for her. So she just wanted to make sure she’ll make it to Naga),” he added.