MANILA, Philippines — Vice presidential candidate Rep. Lito Atienza on Thursday said he is “very seriously” considering backing out from the race so that his running mate, Senator Manny Pacquiao, can be “given a clean break.”
“Very seriously,” Atienza told reporters when asked if he is thinking of backing out of the 2022 vice presidential derby.
He explained that he will not back out due to health reasons but to give Pacquiao a chance to forge a tandem that can win against the duo of Ferdinand “Bomgbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara-Duterte Carpio, who are dominating in pre-election surveys.
“I can handle the health reasons. I can do my campaign via Zoom but the thing is, if it’s not helping, in fairness to a man like Manny Pacquiao, he should be given a clean break,” Atienza said.
Atienza is currently recuperating from a knee surgery and has not been able to accompany Pacquiao in his recent campaign activities.
Pacquiao – Sotto?
Atienza said he is hoping that presidential candidate Senator Panfilo Lacson would also do the “self-sacrificing act” of withdrawing from the race, too, so that his running mate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, can team up with Pacquiao.
“I am praying and hoping that Ping [would back out]. He already knows the realities of his political position. I hope he backs out, too, and that could change the whole structure that could completely demolish the Bongbong-Sara tandem,” he said.
Atienza said that he would officially withdraw his candidacy if Lacson would also quit from the race and an agreement between Pacquiao and Sotto would be finalized.
He said he has already reached out to Pacquiao and Sotto.
