Presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson slammed the call of Buhay Representative Lito Atienza that urged him to withdraw from the presidential race.
Atienza, who is running as vice president for Senator Manny Pacquiao, said that he is considering pulling out from the vice presidential race "very seriously."
He added that he wants Pacquiao to run with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, running-mate of Lacson, who Atienza said he is "praying and hoping" would withdraw to "change the whole structure that could completely demolish" the Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte lead in the elections.
Lacson did not take kindly to this call, however, and slammed Atienza and his pronouncement.
"For the nth time, I will finish this race and I am not backing out. I reject the call of Rep. Jose Atienza for me to withdraw from the presidential race," said the senator.
"What he did is uncalled for - kabastusan, to say the least. He should go back to school and study Good Manners and Right Conduct, which law I co-authored."
Lacson then reiterated his call to junk "survey politics" and urged Filipinos to vote for a leader who is not dictated by polls and is the "most qualified and competent."
"Instead of thinking we will waste our votes on those who are qualified but not leading in the surveys, we should remember that it would be a bigger waste if we select the wrong leader who turns out to be less competent," he said.
Lacson, who has been repeatedly hit by rumors that he will withdraw, said that many of his friends want him to continue the fight despite his low placement on pre-election surveys.
The senator is currently behind Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Senator Manny Pacquiao on the race to presidency, based on the latest pre-election survey from Pulse Asia.
