MANILA, Philippines — The falling out between former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and former speaker Jose de Venecia is now apparently “water under the bridge.“
The two figure heads of the once dominant Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats party were seen standing side-by-side in a picture released by the office of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Lakas-CMD president.
The photo showed Arroyo and De Venecia making the thumbs up sign, which was popularized by their fellow Lakas-CMD stalwart, former president Fidel V. Ramos.
The photo was taken during a luncheon for Lakas-CMD party congressmen at the Sampaguita Gardens in Quezon City yesterday.
Arroyo, Lakas-CMD president emeritus and De Venecia’s running mate in the 1998 presidential elections, was the special guest of the event along with Romualdez and Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr., Lakas-CMD party chairman.
“Our team is rebuilding Lakas-CMD and we will win them back again,” Romualdez said, referring to the former members of the party.
In his speech, De Venecia urged Lakas-CMD congressmen to strengthen the party and ensure its major role in the 2022 elections.
Arroyo and De Venecia had a falling out after the “Hello Garci” scandal in 2008.
They also accused each other of corruption in connection with the aborted $29 million NBN-ZTE scandal.