MANILA - Administration bet and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas downplayed reports saying that his staff met with officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) ahead of the elections.

The presidential candidate explained his staff met each other by chance recently and had social conversations.

Roxas said the police officials and Roxas' staff previously worked together at the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

"Natanong ko 'yung isang staff ko, sabi nila, nagkita sila sa lobby. Nagchikahan sila at 'yun lang din 'yun," Roxas said.

Earlier, reports stated that several PNP generals belonging to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1984, Roxas' adoptive PMA class, were seen with Roxas campaign personnel inside a function room in a Cubao hotel.