Atienza considers VP bid withdrawal for Pacquiao-Sotto tandem

Buhay Representative Lito Atienza is seriously considering withdrawing from the vice presidential race to potentially allow presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao to team up with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.

Atienza suggested this tandem in hopes that Pacquiao and Sotto could defeat survey frontrunners Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

This suggestion was met with an insulting response from presidential candidate Senator Ping Lacson, who told Atienza to "go back and study his GMRC" (Good Manners and Right Conduct).

Atienza retorted by telling Lacson to "learn some manners, too" and that he did not need to be insulting to make his point.

Atienza previously stated he would formally withdraw if Lacson abandoned his presidential bid, wanting to avoid meddling in the Lacson-Sotto partnership.

The former Manila mayor has been recovering from knee surgery, which caused him to miss vice presidential debates.