Gordon opposes move to probe OCTA Research

Senator Richard Gordon on Monday opposed the move of several lawmakers to look into OCTA Research, an independent group that issues projections about the COVID-19 situation in the country.

In a statement, Gordon questioned the motive, saying OCTA Research has shown a "high level of accuracy" in its forecasts on past and recent surges in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces.

"Using the power of congressional oversight to question the motives of a private non-profit group whose members are academics with published credentials is a waste of resources and constitutes a veiled attempt to assign the blame to the bearer of bad news," Gordon said in a statement.

"Accusing the same group of 'gaming the system' by brazenly trying to manipulate the health emergency in order to promote its professional reputation at the expense of public welfare is a preposterous idea which cannot be allowed to fester by allowing idle minds to sensationalize it 'in aid of legislation,'" he said.

"Which brings us to question: Is OCTA being punished for being right?" Gordon added.

Further, he said legislative efforts should instead be directed to address more urgent concerns such as the non-payment of claims by PhilHealth to health service providers, the lack of testing and contact tracing in most local government units, and the ramping up of vaccination nationwide.

"These times require the best from all of us.  Nowadays, solidarity is self-interest. If we fail to understand this, everyone loses," Gordon said.

In response, Representative Michael Edgar Aglipay, chairperson of the House committee on good government and public accountability, said he does not want to prejudge the authors or merits of the subject of the inquiry.

The P1 trillion in economic losses during the ECQ period shows how important the topic is, Aglipay said.

"I will judge it fairly as a competent and fair chair of the blue ribbon committee," he said in a separate statement.

Representatives Bernadette Herrera, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Sharon Garin, Stella Luz Quimbo and Jesus "Bong" Suntay last week lodged House Resolution 2075, urging 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.

Dr. Guido David, an OCTA fellow, said he welcomes the probe as it would give them the opportunity to publicly discuss their methodology.

Prof. Ranjit Rye, another OCTA fellow, said the group has a healthy working relationship with the Department of Health, including Secretary Francisco Duque III and Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Rye said the opponent here is the COVID-19, not the OCTA Research. — BM, GMA News