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Pacquiao won't endorse Sotto unless running mate Atienza 'gives way'

Philippines

Pacquiao won't endorse Sotto unless running mate Atienza 'gives way'

By Joseph Pedrajas

Presidential aspirant Senator Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao on Saturday denied claims that he will endorse vice presidential bet Senate President Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III as his new candidate of choice in the upcoming elections.

Pacquiao said he will only do it if he gets a green light from his current partner, party list Rep. Jose 'Lito; Atienza, who is already considering backing out of the race.

"With respect to my Vice-President, malinaw naman siguro yung sinabi niya na mag gi-give way lang siya kung mag give way din si Lacson (Sen. Panfilo Lacson). Pero pag hindi naman, tuloy din siya so pangit naman na pupunta tayo doon na may vice-president pa tayo, (It's clear that he will only give way if Ping Lacson does the same. But if not, he will continue joining the race. So it won't look good if we're attending a Sotto rally if we still have our own vice presidential bet)," he told reporters.

Pacquiao said he has no problem endorsing Sotto because they are also friends and belong to the so-called "macho bloc" in the Senate.

The lawmaker said his loyalty to Atienza remains firm although the latter has been unable to join him in sorties due to his knee problem.

"Respeto na lang kay Lito Atienza... Malabo yung pupunta ako kay Sotto sa rally nila para mag- endorse sa kanya (We should respect Atienza... So it's impossible that I will attend a Sotto rally to endorse him)," he said.

But Pacquiao added that he is still open to having talks with Sotto to discuss their respective political plans.

Related Tags

endorsement Tito Sotto lito atienza Manny Pacquiao

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