APPLICANT FOR VICE PRESIDENT: Jose ‘Lito’ Atienza Jr.

JOSE “LITO” ATIENZA JR. 

Personal information

• 80 years old
• Born on Aug. 10, 1941
• Born and raised in Manila
• Married to Ma. Evelina Ilagan
• Father of six children

Educational background

• Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Santo Tomas

Government experience 

• Manila assemblyman (1984 to 1986)
• Manila vice mayor (1992 to 1998)
• Manila mayor (1998 to 2007)
• Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (2007 to 2009)
• Buhay party-list representative (2013 to present)
• Deputy speaker, House of Representatives (2020 to present)

Atienza, then a youth leader for the Democratic Youth Movement, was one of the survivors of the 1971 Plaza Miranda bombing that left nine persons killed and several others injured, including prominent figures of the Liberal Party. 

During his stint as Manila mayor, Atienza ordered the demolition of the Manila Jai Alai Building in 2000, despite strong opposition. In response to the demolition, Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act – which aims to protect, preserve, conserve and promote the Philippines’ cultural heritage – was enacted into law in 2009.

Atienza, a staunch religious and pro-life advocate, was one of the critics of the now-enacted Reproductive Health Law. He also expressed opposition to several bills, such as anti-discrimination, divorce and the re-imposition of the death penalty. 

Atienza was also one of the most vocal supporters of media giant ABS-CBN Corporation during the height of its franchise renewal bid. In July 2020, a House panel killed ABS-CBN’s bid, with Atienza calling it a “mistrial.”

‘I was the most shocked’ 

In a surprise move, Atienza filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president on Friday, Oct. 1 at the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila in Pasay City. He was chosen to be the running mate of Sen. Manny Pacquiao, who filed his COC for president.

Both Pacquiao and Atienza were the first to file their COCs for president and vice president, respectively. Instead of Pacquiao’s PDP-Laban, which is currently divided between factions of the senator and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, Pacquiao and Atienza filed their candidacies under the Probinsya Muna Development Initiative or PROMDI. 

In an interview with “One News Now” on One News on Friday, Atienza said he himself was surprised when Pacquiao asked him to be his running mate. 

He said he was “elated” that Pacquiao convinced him to join his campaign and “I accepted that role.”

“But when he told me ‘I have decided that you will be my vice president,’ I responded ‘My offer to help you is different from me joining the race,” Atienza disclosed in a mix of English and Filipino. 

Despite his reluctance, Atienza admitted that ran out of arguments when Pacquiao pointed out the advantages of them joining forces. “I cannot say [no] anymore. I want him to win, that’s the bigger reason,” he said. 

Atienza revealed in another interview that the decision was made by Pacquiao only last Thursday, Sept. 30, on the eve of filing of their COCs.

“I was the one giving recommendations, but he chose me,” he admitted during the episode of “The Chiefs” on One News on Friday night.

“He called me and told me that as a result of his discernment and prayer he has decided that I am most qualified to be his running mate. As he puts it, ‘if we win, I will need your advice because you’re more experienced as a bureaucrat,” Atienza disclosed.

The ranking congressman said Pacquiao “considers me as a father” who could guide him should he win the presidency.

Atienza admitted he had been pushing for other possible running mates of Pacquiao “but none of them really matched.”

He earlier pushed for the tandem of Pacquiao and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, whom he also supported in the May 2022 polls.

Atienza stressed he did not feel as if he was only a lid hole for Pacquiao’s presidential bid. “It was never pushed in the manner that I’m a last-minute choice or just because nobody else wants it. If that were the case, I would have not agreed.”

The congressman said he decided to support Pacquiao with the belief that the senator would be able to bring in the needed change in government.

“We are the worst country in the world in terms of fighting the (COVID-19)…There’s something wrong going on, so we need a big change in government. Manny is the man who can change all of these,” Atienza added.

Asked if being under the banner of PROMDI was a matter of convenience since there is still an ongoing rift within PDP-Laban, Atienza answered, “On the practical side, yes.” 

“There is a solid political party that will endorse and nominate us. For me, I am open to accepting PROMDI since their ideology is not new to me. Their ideology is the development of provinces, decentralization of everything towards the provinces.,” he said. 

But should the Commission on Elections side with the Cusi faction when it comes to the case of PDP-Laban, Atienza said that he and Pacquiao will push through with their candidacies under the PROMDI banner. “Wala nang bawian, tuloy-tuloy na ‘yan (There’s no backing down, we will push through with this).”