After requesting Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson to withdraw from the presidential run, the House Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Representative apologized.

Atienza is running for vice president with presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao, while Lacson is running for president with Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.

Their teams will face former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Doc Willie Ong.

Atienza encouraged Lacson to cancel his candidacy and allow Pacquiao and Sotto to establish a new tandem last week.

Lacson, on the other hand, simply refused Atienza’s offer.

“Hindi expected ‘yung reaction ni Ping. He rejected the idea outright. He, in fact, considered it an insult and I apologize publicly. Sabi ko, ‘hindi naman insulto ‘yun’. I did not mean to insult Ping,” (“Ping’s reaction was unexpected. He rejected the idea outright. He, in fact, considered it an insult and I apologize publicly. I said, ‘that’s not an insult’. I did not mean to insult Ping,”) Atienza said.

Meanwhile, Lacson responded to Atienza on the microblogging site Twitter.

“In all humility, apology accepted,” Lacson wrote.