OCTA says House probe not proper venue to discuss its research methods

Dr. Guido David of OCTA Research. SCREENSHOT PHOTO FROM INQSIDE LOOK INTERVIEW

MANILA, Philippines — A fellow at the OCTA Research on Friday said the House may not be the proper venue to discuss the group’s qualifications and research methodology in arriving at their findings on COVID-19 trends in the country.

In an interview over ABS-CBN Teleradyo, Professor Guido David said OCTA Research, while welcoming of the resolution filed by five lawmakers, likened the looming House probe on the group’s eligibility to a thesis defense before people in the market.

“I am not certain if the House is the proper venue because experts might not be there. Pano nila masasabi na tama ‘yung methodology o mali? Because they would just be looking at it from a layperson’s point of view. Hindi naman sila science, modeling experts or data analytics,” David said.

(I am not certain if the House is the proper venue because experts might not be there. How can they say the methodology is correct or not? They would just be looking at it from a layperson’s point of view. They are not science or modeling experts or data analysts.)

“Parang thesis defense ‘yan, pero ‘yung mga nanonood, parang nagthe-thesis defense ako sa palengke, ano ‘yung point nun or something? Mahirap i-explain,” he said in jest.

(It’s like a thesis defense but if my viewers are people in the market, what is the point of it? It will be hard to explain.)

Representatives Bernadette Herrera, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Sharon Garin, Stella Quimbo, and Jesus Suntay earlier filed House Resolution No. 2075, calling for an investigation on OCTA Research’s “qualifications, research methodologies, partnerships, and composition.”

This comes after the OCTA Research and the Department of Health and other health experts debated about the use of the term surge in referring to the increase of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

David said he was shocked that there was even a call to investigate their group.

“Syempre nagulat ako and naisip ko, para saan pa? Because like I said kung gusto naman nilang malaman ang methodology, there would be a proper venue,” he said when asked of his reaction on the resolution.

(Of course I was shocked and I asked what was it for? Like I said, if they want to know our methodologies, there would be a proper venue.)

David said there should be a venue where the institutions questioning OCTA Research and providing their own findings will be present “so we can do a comparison.” He added he is not sure if the House probe will amount to anything if only members of the OCTA Research will be present.

The professor, meanwhile, noted that he does not engage in what he called “attacks” against the group on social media.

“I don’t engage in social media posts or attacks. Since I am a tenured professor also of the University of the Philippines, I have to abide by ethics. There should be a proper venue for discussing methodologies, hindi ‘yung sa (not in) social media back and forth,” he said, adding that he wants an “open” discussion instead.

In the end, David said their team is only trying to help.

“We use science as a way to help. Ito ‘yung contribution namin. Dito ‘yung expertise namin, ginagamit namin (This is our contribution. This is where our expertise is and we are trying to use it),” he said.

EDV