KUALA LUMPUR — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. emphasized on Tuesday that genuine reconciliation shouldn’t come with preconditions.
“No, no, no… that’s not how reconciliation works. You don’t make demands if you truly want to reconcile,” Marcos told the Philippine media. He suggested that those sincere about mending ties should be willing to sit down and talk frankly about the root of the conflict.
“If you’re truly sincere, you sit down and say, ‘What’s the issue? How did this happen? Let’s fix it,’” he added.
He stressed that adding conditions to any attempt at reconciliation is more akin to making demands rather than fostering unity.
When asked how far he’s willing to go to pursue reconciliation, Marcos responded, “Put it this way. I don’t know. It depends on what’s needed.”
Marcos has previously said he’s open to repairing ties with the Duterte family, noting the importance of friends over enemies, and expressing a desire for stability within his administration.
The President and Vice President Sara Duterte were allies during the 2022 election, but their relationship soured after Duterte resigned as Education Secretary. Tensions escalated further following sharp criticisms from the Duterte family, including ex-President Rodrigo Duterte labeling Marcos as “bangag” (drugged) and accusing him of aspiring to dictatorship.
First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also publicly expressed disapproval of the Vice President, particularly after Sara Duterte allowed her father to make offensive remarks and joined rallies critical of Marcos.
Despite the deepening rift, Marcos remains open to reconciliation—so long as it’s rooted in sincerity, not conditions