Several former officials gathered for the 90th anniversary of the Office of the Vice President, hosted by Vice President Sara Duterte on November 14. Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended, while others skipped for various reasons. The event highlighted the history of the vice presidential role.
The 90th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) took place on Friday, November 14, hosted by Vice President Sara Duterte. It became a mini-reunion of former high-ranking officials, but not all living ex-vice presidents attended. There are four living former vice presidents, but only Joseph “Erap” Estrada, who uses a wheelchair, and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo showed up in person. Both are also former presidents.
Estrada served as vice president under Fidel V. Ramos, while Arroyo was Estrada’s vice president before assuming the presidency after his ouster in the Second EDSA People Power Revolution. Arroyo is a staunch ally of the Dutertes. Estrada was accompanied by his son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who delivered a speech on his father’s behalf. While giving the speech, Jinggoy’s name came up in the ongoing Senate probe on flood control, where he was accused of receiving kickbacks.
Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo was invited but sent her regrets, according to the OVP, due to a scheduled meeting with the French ambassador. As vice president, Robredo had a rough relationship with then-President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly over the bloody drug war, though she was once portrayed as having friendly ties with his daughter Sara. Jejomar Binay, who served under President Noynoy Aquino, made his presence felt via a video message; he was represented by his daughters, Makati Mayor Nancy Binay and her sister Anne. Former Vice President Noli de Castro sent his grandchild to represent him.
Relatives of former vice presidents Fernando Lopez, Carlos Garcia, Emmanuel Pelaez, and Teofisto Guingona Jr. also attended to receive a coffee table book from the OVP titled “First in Line,” which features the country’s vice presidents.