Former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo prodded former President Rodrigo Duterte to be active again in politics, Senator Christopher Go disclosed on Monday.
Arroyo’s photo with Duterte made the rounds on social media two days after she also posted a photo of her with former Vice President Leni Robredo on Saturday.
“I recently had a social dinner with former Vice President Leni Robredo and mutual friends from Bicol,” she said in a statement.
“We chatted about Bicol politics,” Arroyo added.
For his part, Go said the “convincing” took place somewhere in Metro Manila during an “informal meeting” between the two former Presidents.
The senator posted on his Facebook account a photo of the meeting between Arroyo and Duterte, which was also attended by Duterte’s former Executive Secretary Samuel Medialdea, and former Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Go declined to provide other details on the “talks” but said Arroyo invited Duterte to the “informal gathering.”
The senator said he accompanied Duterte for his medical check-up and then to the meeting with Arroyo.
“Since former President Duterte seldom goes to Manila these days, the meeting with Arroyo was made in time for his check-up,” he said.
He said Sotto also wanted to personally see Duterte so he attended the simple get-together.
“It was a simple get-together and happy reunion among leaders who served the country in different positions and capacities during the past administrations. They reminisced those times when they worked together in the government,” Go said.
Last month, speculations that Duterte might be tapped as special envoy to China swirled after he flew to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping “as old friends.”
During their meeting, Xi asked Duterte to continue promoting “friendly cooperation” between the two countries.
However, Duterte’s former spokesman, Salvador Panelo, said the former President is not interested in serving as special envoy to China.
“First of all, there is no need for that. He is a former president. He is enjoying his retirement. Let us leave him alone,” Panelo said.
“Even if he [Duterte] is not being told to do so, he is doing his part. His [recent] visit to China expands and deepens [our] relationship with China,” Panelo added.