‘Sara, Leni alliance unlikely’

MANILA, Philippines — With differences in their principles, it is unlikely for former president Leni Robredo to forge an alliance with Vice President Sara Duterte, Robredo’s former spokesman Barry Gutierrez said yesterday.

“As to an alliance, that is unlikely to happen,” Gutierrez told “Storycon” on One News.

“Like what VP Leni said, alliances are based on principles. It is clear to me that their principles are very different. So I don’t think that will happen,” he added.

On Friday, Duterte visited Robredo at her home in Naga City.

According to Gutierrez, Robredo was “put on the spot” as she only learned of Duterte’s visit when she was already on the way to Naga.

“This is not something she agreed to in advance. She decided that it is more important to welcome the person,” Gutierrez said. “That is how VP Leni is. Her GMRC (good manners and right conduct) takes precedence during those situations.”

Gutierrez believes that Duterte had an intention when she decided to visit Robredo.

“I can only speculate, but probably one of the intentions was to create this kind of buzz, to create intrigue,” he said.

Duterte recently broke her alliance with President Marcos, whom Robredo ran against in the 2022 elections.

Robredo will run for mayor of Naga City next year.

De Lima to run as party-list rep

Meanwhile, former senator Leila de Lima has announced her bid for a congressional seat in the 2025 midterm elections.

De Lima said she accepted the nomination as the lead nominee of Mamamayang Liberal party-list.

She expressed belief that Mamamayang Liberal is an ideal platform for her advocacy in pushing for the interests of the marginalized sectors.