PNoy gives De Lima a box of chocolates two days ahead of Valentine’s

IRIGA CITY—President Benigno Aquino III gave his former Justice Secretary Leila De Lima a box of chocolates two days ahead of Valentine's Day drawing amusement and laughter from the audience at the administration coalition's political rally here.

Aquino handed De Lima the sweets just before he delivered his speech to ask the Bicolanos to support the ruling Liberal Party's standard bearer Mar Roxas and his running mate Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo.

"Si Leila kasi nagmistulang lalaban sa Bb. Pilipinas," Aquino told the crowd following his gesture towards De Lima, the secretary of justice for most of the Aquino administration until her resignation in late 2015 to run for senator.

Aquino complemented De Lima for supposedly losing some weight since the campaign period started on Tuesday. The other women onstage included Robredo and senatorial bets Risa Hontiveros and Ina Ambolodto.

The audience and De Lima, who's a part of the Daang Matuwid coalition's senatorial line-up, laughed as she accepted the President's gift.

The administration slate kicked off its national campaign in Roxas City, Capiz and Iloilo on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, the administration slate will be in the Bicol Region for campaign sorties in Camarines Sur, Masbate and Albay. -NB, GMA News