President Marcos described his short meeting with former election rival, former vice president Leni Robredo, as a "political reconciliation" and that he was happy that it happened.

Marcos said this after his photo exchanging smiles and shaking hands with Robredo, his rival for the presidency in 2022, in Sorsogon made headlines on Thursday, Oct. 17.

In a speech in Malacañan on Friday morning, the President thanked Senate President Chiz Escudero for orchestrating his short meeting with the former vice president.

"Senate President Chiz Escudero, who has taken a very important step towards political reconciliation yesterday. Well done. I’m so happy you did that," he said.

In an interview after the speech, House Speaker Martin Romualdez told Palace reporters that unity has always been President Marcos' desire for the country.

"It has always been our President's message to the country that we always must unite— that Filipinos must always be as one," he said.

"So that's just a reiteration of a message that resonates throughout the Philippines— about reuniting, reconciling, and being one," he added.

Marcos and Robredo have been political rivals since 2016. Robredo won the vice presidency against both Marcos and Escudero in 2016. The tables turned in 2022 when Marcos won the presidential race by a landslide against Robredo.

Senate President Escudero described the meeting as "symbolic." He explained that he invited Robredo to the inauguration of the Sorsogon Sports Arena as she is a Bicolana but it was her decision to stay and welcome the President.

"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.

"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 added, explaining that it was a three-hour drive for Robredo.

Escudero believes the short exchange between the two political leaders is the start of reconciliation.

"Tingin ko ito ay unang hakbang tungo sa paghilom ng kung ano mang sugat, ano mang hindi pagkakaunawaan (I think this is the first step toward healing whatever wound or misunderstanding they have)," he said.