Marcos on Aquinos’ Palace visit: They wanted to thank Liza

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. —photo from Presidential Communications Office

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday played down speculations about the reason for the visit to the Palace on Tuesday of Kris Aquino’s two sons, saying they were there to express their gratitude for the assistance extended by first lady Liza Araneta Marcos to their mother.

“The reason that [Josh and Bimby] visited the first lady is simple: I think it was Kris Aquino who needed some assistance for something,” he said during an interview in Rizal province.

READ: LOOK: Kris Aquino’s sons Bimby and Joshua meet with First Lady Liza Marcos

“But what the reports did not say is that Liza is their aunt, because her aunt was married to Don Pepe [Cojuangco], the eldest brother of Cory (former President Corazon Aquino),” Marcos explained, referring to the two young men’s grandmother and Kris’ mother. He said the visit of Joshua Aquino and younger brother James “Bimby” Aquino Yap Jr. to Malacañang was just another indication that the relationship between their families has gotten better, even as he conceded that they used to be in the middle of political bickering.

“I think it was a very fine gesture on the part of the Aquino family. I think it sort of, I suppose put a little more, how do you say—personal, a human interaction between our families,” he added.

The President acknowledged that while his family and the Aquinos were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, their relationship after the term of then-President Benigno Aquino III has “always been okay.”

The Aquinos were at the core of a people power revolt in 1986 that led to the ouster of the dictatorial regime of then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He was succeeded by Corazon Aquino.