PBBM on the Aquinos: We've always been okay


At a glance

  • President Marcos described the meeting as a "fine gesture" on the part of the Aquino family, revealing that the Aquino boys are the First Lady's nephews.


Despite not seeing eye-to-eye politically, President Marcos said his family and the Aquinos have always been "okay" as shown by the recent visit of the sons of TV personality Kris Aquino to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.

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FAMILY REUNION — Brothers Bimby (left) and Josh (right) Aquino visit First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in her office in Malacañan on July 9, 2024. It was revealed that the brothers, the sons of TV personality Kris Aquino, are nephews of the First Lady. (Liza Marcos/Facebook)

Marcos said this after Aquino's sons, Josh and Bimby, visited the First Lady in her office on Tuesday, July 9.

In an interview with reporters in Rodriguez, Rizal, the President described the meeting as a "fine gesture" on the part of the Aquino family, revealing that the Aquino boys are the First Lady's nephews.

"Liza is their aunt. Dahil ang kanyang auntie ay napangasawa si (her aunt is the wife of) Don Pepe, the eldest brother of Cory (the late former president Corazon Aquino)," he said on Wednesday, July 10.

"They are related. Kaya’t hindi naman nakakapagtaka. Kilalang kilala niya yung mga pamangkin niya very well (So it was no surprise. She knows her nephews very well)," he added.

Asked if the feud between the two families was over, Marcos said the two families were always "okay."

"We've always been okay. We just don't agree politically," he said.

"I think it was a very fine gesture on the part of the Aquino family. I think it was — it sort of I suppose put a little more — how do you say — personal, a human interaction between our families," he added.

First Lady Liza surprised Filipinos online when she uploaded a photo of her with Josh and Bimby on her Facebook page. The President explained that the brothers asked for the First Lady's assistance.

"The reason na pinuntahan nila si First Lady ay simple lamang (The reason for their visit is simple). I think it was Kris Aquino who needed some assistance for something... I think it was just to help them with their travel arrangements. So, tumulong si First Lady (The First Lady obliged)," Marcos said.

The Marcoses and the Aquinos are families known to be political rivals. Former senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. was assassinated during the time of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., the current president's father, in 1983. This led to the People Power Revolution in 1986 which ousted the Marcos family and installed Aquino's wife, Corazon Aquino, as the new president.

Despite this, President Marcos and TV personality Kris Aquino were known to have a friendly relationship. Aquino even interviewed Marcos live on TV in 1995 where the two exchanged friendly banters.

In the said interview, Marcos said he had no ill feelings toward the Aquinos despite the events in 1986. Aquino acknowledged how former First Lady Imelda Marcos helped her father get treatment when he had a heart attack in 1980.