Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. Friday said he is unfazed over the latest Pulse Asia survey which shows him now at a statistical tie with Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) front runner former president Joseph Estrada.

Villar said he is banking on the strong support that would come from the "ground."

"Sa akin naman, nakikita ko naman na lilipat sa ground ang labanan, (To me, I can see that the battle will shift to the ground)," Villar told reporters after a concert rally in Malolos, Bulacan.

"Sa ground (support) naman OK kami (we're OK). Nakikita ko na lamang ang aming organization (I can see our organization having an upperhand)," Villar further said.

But Villar said that he was puzzled over the timing of the field survey because it coincided at a time Estrada and reelectionist Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile disclosed the alleged anomalous transactions he had with officials of the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Enrile and Estrada claimed Villar bent the rules of the PSE to pressure them to sell shares of Vista Land and Landscape while it is still on a lock up period.

Enrile claimed that Villar gained sizeable funds from the deal which he uses to fund his presidential bid.

"Alam nyo sasabihin ko dahil inaalam ko kung kalian nag-field survey nung 23. Noon din lumabas yung (issue) sa PSE (I am checking when the field survey was conducted last April 23. That was also  the time the PSE issue came out)," Villar said.

"Sabi ko mukhang alam na alam kung kailan ang field survey. Kaya pala lumabas yung issue na yun dahil simula na ng field work (I was thinking, I think they already know when the field survey would be conducted. That is why the issue cropped up," observed Villar.

Villar, however, said he is not inclined to call for a stop to preferential surveys saying it is the prerogative of the people to believe or to reject surveys.

"It's up to the people if they want to conduct surveys. It’s up to the companies if they want to do so. We are not hindering them and it’s up to the readers whom they choose to believe," Villar said.

Villar also said there are some surveys which they accept and which they do not.

But he called on his rivals, particularly Liberal Party presidential candidate Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, to face issues squarely and fairly.

"I answer all the issues that come my way. I might be wrong in doing that as some of my friends say it takes away most of my time. Everything is lies. My appeal is that they also answer the issues against them because the public is also seeking for answers," Villar said.

"It's unfair when they just say an issue is wrong or a report is wrong or an accusation is wrong," he pointed out.