Pacquiao-Sotto tandem? Manny says 'wait for the coming days' (Sabong News)
Author
Joseph Pedrajas
Date
MARCH 30 2022
Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he is not discounting the possibility of a “Manny-Sotto” tandem if his running mate, House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza decides to quit the vice presidential race due to his medical problem.
Pacquiao admitted he was supposed to meet with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III last Monday, but the meeting was temporarily set aside since he had to meet with Space X senior managers.
According to Pacquiao, Atienza has already hinted at quitting his election bid due to his leg problem. The latter, he said, is pushing for Sotto to become Pacquiao’s partner instead.
Sotto is running for vice president in tandem with Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, one of Pacquiao’s rival in the May 2022 presidential race.
However, Pacquiao said such scenario remains farfetched saying he is optimistic Atienza would soon recover and return to the campaign trail. He said the lawmaker will remain his running mate in the upcoming elections.
“Wala naman kaming problema ni Congressman Lito Atienza at sabi naman ng aking ka-tandem na kung may mapili man siya na kung sakaling hindi niya kaya ay gusto niya si Sotto na pwedeng dalhin as VP (I and Cong. Atienza have no problem with each other. Although he told me to bring Tito Sotto as my vice presidential bet),” Pacquiao told reporters shortly after attending a Christian fellowship in Iloilo City.
Pacquiao added his proposed alliance with Sotto has never been discussed yet.
“Abangan niyo na lang yung mga susunod na kabanata kapag nakapag-usap na kami. Hindi pa kami nagkakapag-usap kaya sabi ko abangan niyo (Wait for the coming days, once we’ve already talked. We haven’t talked to each other yet, so wait),” he said.
“Basta mag-uusap lang kami. Depende na kung ano yung pag-uusapan namin. About sa buhay, about sa politics (We will surely talk to each other. It will depend on what we will come up to, about life, about politics),” he added.
Sought for comment, Sotto said he is “humbled and will certainly appreciate such a move” coming from the camp of Pacquiao.
