ILOILO CITY -- Senator and presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao said his running-mate, Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, prefers Senate President Tito Sotto to replace him if he withdraws from the race due to health reasons.

“Kung hindi nya makakaya, gusto niya si Sotto (If he is not capable, he wants Sotto),” Pacquiao said during a press conference in Iloilo City Wednesday, March 30.

Atienza is already 80 years old, and just last February, he underwent knee surgery.

The boxer-turned-politician declined to give a categorical answer if he is already endorsing Sotto since it’s already less than 40 days before the May 9 elections. Atienza has also not joined him in their campaign sortie.

“Mas importante ang kalusugan ng isang tao. At least, naka-tayo na siya at naka lakad na siya pero baka mabigla. Huwag lang muna (A person’s health is important. At least, he can stand and walk now. But it might be too soon so let’s not talk about it),” Pacquiao told reporters, referring to Atienza’s condition.

Pacquiao did not elaborate why Atienza preferred Sotto to other vice presidential candidates, but Sotto is known to be a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church and known to oppose new policies that do not sit well with the Catholic faith.

Pacquiao also said he has yet to talk to Sotto personally about the possibility of tapping him as his running mate. Pacquiao and Sotto are supposed to meet this week but that was cancelled because Pacquiao’s previous commitment to meet with SpaceX executives.

“Abangan ang susunod na kabanata (Wait for the next chapter),” Pacquiao said.

But Pacquiao added that politics aside, he and Sotto will definitely talk.

“Depende na kung ano yung pag-uusapan namin— tungkol sa buhay, tungkol sa politics (It will depend—we might talk about life or we might talk about politics),” stressed Pacquiao.