Marcos on the Aquinos: 'We've always been okay'

MONTALBAN, Rizal — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said the Marcoses and the Aquinos have "always been okay" despite being on opposite sides of the political fence.

Marcos' remark came after the two scions of the Aquino family -- James Carlos "Bimby" Aquino-Yap Jr. and Joshua Aquino -- visited their aunt first lady Marie Louise "Liza" Araneta-Marcos. Both are sons of TV personality Kris Aquino, youngest daughter of martyred senator Benigno Aquino Jr. and the late president Corazon Aquino

"We've always been okay. We just don't agree politically," the President said when asked if the Aquinos and Marcoses were okay.

The President said the meeting was a "fine gesture" on the part of the Aquino family, saying that the Aquino sons were the first lady's nephews.

"Liza is their aunt. Her aunt is the wife of Don Pepe, the eldest brother of Cory (the late president Aquino's nickname)," Marcos said.

"They are related. So it was no surprise. She knows her nephews very well," he added.

Marcos' father and namesake was ousted as president in a people's revolt in 1986 spearheaded by senator Aquino's widow, Corazon who went on to become the country's first woman president.

After 20 years in power, Marcos and his family were forced into exile in Hawaii where the former strongman died in 1989. His remains were buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in November 2016, months after then Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte assumed the presidency.