UP: OCTA's polling, research activities not connected to university

The OCTA Research Team's polling, research, and consultation activities have no connection to the University of the Philippines, the university said on Friday.

UP issued the statement in after five lawmakers filed a resolution seeking a House inquiry of the independent research group that regularly issued projections and warnings about the COVID-19 pandemic.

It recently released the results of its poll on presidential and vice presidential preferences, which Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and President Rodrigo Duterte topped.  

"Initiatives involving particular UP faculty and research staff members, such as the OCTA Research Team’s polling, research, and consultation activities, have no connection to UP and are not sponsored, endorsed, or organized by the University," the UP statement read.

UP said it was "taking steps to enhance protocols to protect its name, symbols, colors, and brand in public."

"Should questions about the UP credentials of individuals and groups arise, UP authorities are ready to verify such credentials should it be necessary," UP aid.

House Resolution 2075, filed August 3, urged the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability to conduct an inquiry "in aid of legislation to ascertain the credentials and background" of OCTA Research.

"There is a public health and public policy need to ensure the safety and security of the population during this pandemic, and that information being distributed is correct and are not irresponsibly and erroneously published," the resolution read.

The resolution seeks to determine the "qualifications, research methodologies, partnerships and composition" of OCTA Research. —NB, GMA News