Do numbers on killings lie?

In debate on major issues such as the drug war, statistics can be misunderstood or distorted

Our leaders use statistics or numbers in presenting their side of an argument. Stats can give facts compellingly and lend force to one’s position or theory.

The danger lies in using stats whipped out of thin air, distorted or half-disclosed, or where meaning is bent to fit into one’s narrative or claim.

That, aside from “flaws” cited by humorists or romantics, such as: --99% of numbers tell only 49% of the story, and --all the numbers in the world “cannot measure the warmth of a woman’s smile.”

Constitution

In the debate on the war against illegal drugs, defenders of the increasing body count cite stats on Filipinos’ trust in President Duterte: 83% (December 2016 poll).

Left out are stats on Pinoys who want drug suspects arrested (71%, October 2016 poll) and those who fear they or relatives or friends could be the next victim (78%, December 2016 poll).

Besides, often lost in the sea of numbers, is that the nation’s sentiment on a given issue cannot supersede the sentiment laid in the Constitution: the value of human life and respect for due process and human rights. The Constitution prevails over shifting moods of the people. And no poll can justify betrayal of the president’s oath.

Trust in stats

Carelessness with numbers can erode public trust in stats. A recent example is Vice President Leni Robredo’s video message at a U.N. conference on narcotic drugs in Vienna, for which and other grounds she is now being impeached.

Senate President Koko Pimentel noted that the VP said “since July last year more than 7,000 people have been killed in summary executions.”

The often-toted figure is 7,000 but in the same stats only 2,555 were killed by police and 4,445 by unidentified persons. And there’s no specific number of illegal executions because of lack of information under that category.

If only stats used by leaders were as harmless as that 65% chance of your loved one cheating on you. Alas, the figures on the drug war affect things more important to the nation.