President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos hosted a dinner for members of the Senate and their spouses to welcome the new year. The First Couple greeted the lawmakers at Bahay Pangulo, the official residence of the President on the Malacañang grounds.

“Had a lovely time catching up with our senators and their spouses as we welcomed the new year together,” Mrs. Marcos said.

She added that she was looking forward to a year filled with unity, progress and hope for all Filipinos.

On her social media pages, the First Lady said the dinner took place on Monday, 13 January.

Coincidentally, this was the day the religious group Iglesia Ni Cristo held a National Rally for Peace across the country, including at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila, in support of the President’s call not to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. The religious group maintained the rally was “not political.”

Several senators attended the dinner, including some of the President’s former colleagues from his time in the Senate. However, the absence of Senators Risa Hontiveros, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Go, Grace Poe and the President’s sister, Imee, was noticeable.

Malacañang has not issued an official statement regarding the dinner, but Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the engagement was “social” and a “private matter.”

“I was not part of that dinner, so I do not know what transpired,” he added.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator JV Ejercito also said the gathering was “purely social” and “not political.”

Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos said she was not invited, while Senator Poe said she was late for the photo op but attended the dinner.