If they win in Eleksyon 2022, Atienza says he will be Pacquiao's 'super alalay'

Vice presidential aspirant and Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza on Tuesday said he would serve as the president's "super alalay (assistant)" if both he and his running mate, Senator Manny Pacquiao, win in the 2022 elections.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB's "Ikaw Na Ba?", Atienza said he is running for vice president because he believes in Pacquiao.

"I will be a super alalay of the president. Yun po ang aking gagawing papel [bilang] Bise Presidente Atienza [That's the role that I will serve as vice president]," he said.

According to him, he will not ask Pacquiao for a position in the government but only an office in Malacañang so he would be readily available to communicate with him.

"I will request [Pacquiao] to give me a space in Malacañang. Ang opisina ng vice president mo dapat katabi ng opisina mo [The vice president's office should be beside the president's office]," he said.

A former Manila mayor whose friendship with Pacquiao dates back to the boxing icon's early training years, Atienza said he would not want to be vice president if some other candidate wins the 2022 presidential race. He specifically mentioned Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"Kung iba ang presidente [If others will become president] — I'll be more specific: Bongbong Marcos, I don't want to be vice president. Kung ang presidente ay [If the president is] Leni Robredo, I would rather not be vice president. I would rather just retire and be on my own," he said. —KBK, GMA News