Binay: LP-commissioned survey meant to boost members' morale

MANILA, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay on Thursday claimed that the survey conducted by the Liberal Party (LP) was designed to boost the morale of its members.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, the presumptive presidential candidate of the LP, led the said survey with 53 percent while Binay scored 37 percent.

READ: Mar leads Binay in LP presidential survey

"Nagpapalakas ng loob lang 'yan. Ang nagsisinungaling lagi hanggang sa naniniwala na sila sa kasinungalingan nila. Pero they are entitled to that. Respect their press release," Binay told members of the press during an ambush interview.

Binay revealed that the United Nationalist Alliance also conducted its survey on his chances for the presidency in the 2016 national elections.

"Meron kami pero di namin sasabihin. Di naman kami gumagawa ng ganun na di kapani-paniwala," Binay said.

LP vice chairman and Senate President Franklin Drilon, however, clarified that the LP-commissioned survey was not meant to deceive the public.

Drilon stressed that the LP paid for the survey but did not manipulate the result.

"If we have intention to cheat, we are also cheating ourselves because we spent money for it," Drilon said in an interview with radio dzRH.

Sen. Grace Poe, who has not yet announced her plans for the 2016 elections, topped the latest presidential preference polls conducted by the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia. Binay took the second spot in both polls while Roxas ranks either third or fourth.

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