Ex-health secretary refutes allegations of corruption in Dengvaxia purchase

Negating claims of corruption and conspiracy, Former Health Secretary Janette Garin said on Monday that there was no “midnight deal” in the procurement of the multi-billion-peso worth Dengvaxia vaccines from French pharmaceutical giant, Sanofi Pasteur.

This after she received a lot of criticisms including one from Senator Richard Gordon who said on Sunday that there are very strong signs that a conspiracy transpired.

“There is no corruption, there is no such goal to speed up because Dengue has long been discussed,” Garin said in a press conference.

She added that the government, which was then under the Aquino administration, strictly followed the procurement process.

“The documents will show that it is a long process. Talks started in 2010. And was strengthened in 2012… It’s not a midnight deal. Everything was above board,” she said.

The former health secretary also stressed that they were not in connivance with the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC), which she tasked in procuring the vaccines.

“Let me categorically state that based on my personal knowledge and in the one and a half years that I’ve been working with them, I have never heard any question of integrity with regards to people and officials of PCMC,” she said.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 12 / 11 / 17)