‘We’ve always been okay,’ PBBM on Aquino boys’ visit to First Lady

FINE GESTURE. Kris Aquino’s sons, Josh and Bimby, visit First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in her office in Manila on Tuesday (July 9, 2024). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. described the meeting as a fine gesture” on the part of the Aquino family even as their clans have been on the opposing ends of the country’s political aisle. (Photo: Liza Marcos/Facebook)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said his family and the Aquinos “have always been okay” despite being on the opposite sides of the Philippines’ political fence.

Marcos made the pronouncement as he explained the visit of Kris Aquino’s sons, Josh and Bimby, to First Lady Liza Marcos on Tuesday at her office in Manila.

According to the President, Josh and Bimby visited the First Lady to thank her for helping with their recent travel arrangements.

“It was just to help them for their travel arrangements. Tumulong si First Lady at ‘yun lang. Sabi lang magpapasalamat sila (The First Lady gave them assistance and they wanted to thank her),” the President told reporters, adding that the two Aquinos are actually related to the First Lady.

The First Lady’s youngest sister, Rosario Cacho, was married to Pedro Cojuangco, the eldest brother of Kris’ mother, former President Cory Aquino.

“Kaya hindi nakakapagtaka na kilalang kilala niya yung mga pamangkin niya (So it’s not surprising that she knows her nephews very well),” Marcos said.

Kris’ father, the late Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. was touted as the political rival of the President’s father and namesake, the late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The Aquino boys’ visit, according to the President, was “a very fine gesture on the part of the Aquino family.”

“I think it sort of put a little more personal, a human interaction between our families,” he said.

“We’ve always been okay. We just don’t agree politically,” he added.

On Tuesday, the First Lady posted on social media photos of the two young Aquinos’ visit to her office.

The First Lady, in her posts, thanked the Aquino boys for giving her a box full of gifts from their overseas trip.