IT has been several months since House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Vice President Sara Duterte had a public interaction.
The meeting took place during the send-off ceremony for President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. at Villamor Airbase.
During the 2022 elections, Duterte and Romualdez were seen as close allies.
In fact, Vice President Duterte became the chairman of the Lakas-CMD Party, with Romualdez as the president.
However, their relationship turned sour after the second vice president resigned from the party a few days after Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was removed as senior deputy speaker.
It appears that the younger Duterte did not approve of what was done to Arroyo.
This led to the rise of the Visayan term ‘Tambaloslos’, which has multiple meanings in the Bisaya language.
One possible interpretation is ‘worthless companion.
It can also be a comment directed at arrogant people.
Or a reaction of Bisaya people when they disapprove of something done by the person they are talking to.
“I hope and we pray that this could be the start or the beginning of reconciliation between the two of them. I believe them that we don’t need at this time any bickering from our political leaders,” Rep. Johnny Pimentel, 2nd District, Surigao del Sur, said.
Before President Marcos send-off speech, Duterte and Romualdez were seen arriving together at Maharlika Hall.
Both appeared like godparents attending a wedding.
The two officials are close to President Marcos.
Romualdez is his cousin, and Duterte was his running mate in the UniTeam ticket.
If there is any tension between them, it could possibly affect the President.
So, for the President,
“The Speaker and the Vice President canoodling is always a very good sign,” President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said.
