Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats Secretary General Prospero Pichay on Wednesday distanced the party from a survey for the Quezon province gubernatorial post that had linked Lakas-CMD to the individuals who commissioned the local poll.
“As far as the Lakas-CMD party is concerned, it has no knowledge about the survey. The party does not conduct or sponsor local surveys. It is confident that its people on the ground are winners,” Pichay, a deputy speaker and a congressman from Surigao del Sur, said in a statement.
“We, the party officials, should have been informed by the said political group and politicians before using the name of Lakas and linking the party to the survey. If indeed any person behind the survey is a member of Lakas, then that member should have secured the consent of the party before using its name.”
An article published in the Manila Times Tuesday said the Philippine Research and Information Service Publishing, led by professor Manuel Mendoza, conducted a local survey for governorship in Quezon province from Nov. 2, 2020, to Dec. 21, 2020.
The article also claimed that the survey “was sponsored by a business group and politicians affiliated with the Lakas-CMD party.”
“We condemn and do not tolerate any attempt to drag the name of Lakas without its consent for any purpose, especially those that are political,” Pichay said.
“We expect a clarification from the people who used the name of Lakas. It is unfair and irresponsible that the party was linked to the survey as the party itself and its officials are not aware of it,” Pichay said.
“The firm is not known. The method is not scientific. Thus results are biased. If Lakas will commission a survey, it will hire a reputable and known group.”
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