Atienza Eyes Withdrawal From VP Race; Pacquiao Says Tandem With Sotto Only Possible If Lacson Backs Out

Vice presidential candidate and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said on Thursday, March 31, he is “very seriously” considering dropping out of the race, and urged other candidates for president and vice president to consider doing the same to make way for candidates who could possibly “demolish” the tandem of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

While Atienza said he could handle campaign activities through remote means despite his leg injury, the deputy speaker said it won’t be fair to his running mate Sen. Manny Pacquiao who “deserves a clean break,” if their partnership is not helping his bid for the presidency anymore.

“Very seriously,” Atienza told reporters when asked whether he was considering leaving the race.

Atienza had been skipping Pacquiao’s sorties, as well as the recent televised debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), due to his leg problems caused by a fall earlier this year.

Pacquiao had said that if Atienza would decide to drop from the race, he would be willing to forge an alliance with vice-presidential bet and fellow senator Vicente Sotto III.

On Wednesday, March 30, Pacquiao said that even before the election period, Atienza had expressed his preference for Sotto, who is presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s running mate.

With a Pacquiao-Sotto tandem becoming even more possible with Atienza’s looming decision to quit, the Atienza said Lacson should drop out of the race to pave way for candidates with better chances of defeating Marcos and Duterte, whose team-up remains popular based on recent preferential surveys.

“I’m praying and hoping that Ping (Lacson) backs out of the race. He already knows the realities of his political position. I hope he backs out too. That can change the whole (political) structure that could completely demolish the Bongbong-Sara tandem,” Atienza said.

Pacquiao told “The Big Story” on One News on Thursday night that Atienza could already stand up and walk a bit after therapy sessions but he advised him to take things slow.

The senator said Atienza would only drop out of the race if Lacson would give to his tandem with Sotto.

Pacquiao said it’s just an “idea” or condition for Atienza not to push through with his candidacy for vice president.

But he stressed there was no comprehensive talk and that he has also not yet met with Sotto and Lacson about the matter.

Pacquiao said he is aware that Lacson does not have plans of quitting the presidential race.

Pacquiao admitted that he was supposed to meet with Sotto last Monday, March 28, but the meeting was called off because of his meeting with SpaceX senior managers.

Study GMRC

Speaking from Zamboanga City, Lacson said he felt offended by Ateinza’s “rude” pronouncements and asked the congressman to “go back to school” and study good manners and right conduct or GMRC

“For the nth time, I’ll finish this race and I’m not backing out,” Lacson said.

“The reason why we restored GMRC (subject) in elementary school is to bring back values to Filipinos. Who is he to tell me to withdraw? He has no personality. I’m not backing out,” Lac-son told reporters in mixed Filipino and English. The senator said he was the author of the law requiring the teaching of GMRC in schools.

“For somebody like him who’s older than me and tell a candidate to back out without consulting, is insulting,” he said.

Lacson said that when he and Sotto filed their certificates of candidacy last October, they had a pact not to abandon each other until the May 9 elections. He said he would not prevent Sotto from attending any campaign rally of Pacquiao.

“So anything that will boost his candidacy, I’m all for it. If there are those who will adopt him as their vice presidential candidate so be it. I will welcome it because I know where he stands, I know where I stand,” Lacson said.

“I trust SP Sotto. We know that we understand each other that we don’t have to talk to each other to know where we stand,” he said.

Sotto has also stressed his running mate will finish the campaign, saying “Senator Ping and I have set our sights on May 9.”

“Endorsements and help are most welcome,” Sotto said.