Sara says before Leni visit, she also called on ex-VPs Guingona, Erap, Gloria

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said that she had also met with some of her other predecessors, even before she went to the residence of former vice president Leni Robredo in Naga City last week. 

At a press conference, Duterte said that she has also paid visits to former vice presidents Teofisto Guingona Jr., Joseph Estrada, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo—the latter two of whom went on to become presidents.

Duterte said she has yet to meet with Noli de Castro and Jejomar Binay.

“Hindi dahil hindi alam ng mga tao or walang picture na lumalabas, ay hindi ko ginagawa. Isa sa mga tasks para sa akin dito sa Office of the Vice President is to visit former vice presidents doon sa mga residences nila,” she said.

(Just because people don't know or there weren’t photos that came out, I don't do it. One of the tasks for me here at the Office of the Vice President is to visit former vice presidents at their residences.)

“Anong purpose ng pagbibisita ko? Nagpapakilala ako sa kanila. Magsasabi ako na ako ‘yung Vice President. At sinasabihan namin sila as former Vice Presidents, we owe it to them na kung may kailangan sila, susuportahan namin sila,” she added. 

(What is the purpose of my visits? I introduce myself to them. I tell them that I am the current Vice President. And I tell them that as former Vice Presidents, we owe it to them to support them if they need anything.) 

Duterte said that she also invites her predecessors to lend memorabilia to the Office of the Vice President Museum.

She also refrained from answering when asked whether her visit to Robredo’s home was planned or not. 

She also refused to confirm whether her visit was purely personal and not political. 

“Siguro ‘no, as she's more senior than me kasi nauna siyang maging vice president sa akin, kung meron mang dapat magsalita, siguro dapat si Vice President Leni ‘yun kasi bahay niya ‘yun and siya ‘yung binista,” Duterte said.

(Since she's more senior than me because she became vice president first, if anyone should speak, maybe it should be Vice President Leni because it's her house and she was the one whom we visited.) 

“Napaka-assuming ko naman kung ako ‘yung magkukuwento. Ako na nga ‘yung bisita, ako pa ‘yung madaldal. So kung si Vice President Leni Robredo ay walang sinasabi, respetuhin natin kung ano ‘yung gusto niya,” she added. 

(I would be assuming if I would be the one to tell the story. I was the guest, I don’t want to talk much about it. So if Vice President Leni Robredo doesn't want to say anything, let's respect what she wants.) 

Robredo's spokesperson Barry Gutierrez earlier disclosed the meeting between Duterte and Robredo. 

"Former VP Leni Robredo was in Naga for the Peñafrancia Festival. While she was there, VP Sara Duterte visited her at her house," Gutierrez said.

According to Gutierrez, the conversation during Duterte's visit was "personal and not political."

2025 elections

Meanwhile, when it comes to the 2025 midterm elections, Duterte said that she is not yet supporting any aspirants so far.

“Sa ngayon, wala. Wala akong Senate state. Wala akong senators. Kasi nga sabi ko, nakatutok kami defending the Office of the Vice President. I feel that that is my primary duty right now, to defend the office,” she said. 

(So far, I’m not supporting anyone. I don't have a Senate state. I don’t have senatorial aspirants. As I said, we are focused on defending the Office of the Vice President. I feel that that is my primary duty right now, to defend the office.) 

“Pero, we'll see. Malayo pa naman kasi ang kampanya. Sa February pa siya magsisimula so tignan natin pagdating ng February, medyo maluwang na at pwede nang mangampanya,” she continued.

(But, we'll see. The campaign is still a long way off. It will start in February, so we'll see by then if our schedule is more lenient and we can already campaign.) — BM, GMA Integrated News