Duque denies VACC obstruction of justice claim

FILE: Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday refuted allegations by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) that he is obstructing justice by refusing to cooperate in the ongoing probe into the Dengvaxia issue.

“I deny any accusation that I am obstructing justice. I am not protecting anyone, most especially those allegedly involved in the controversial implementation of the dengue immunization,” Duque said, adding that there is no truth that he is not cooperating with efforts to bring justice to those who received the vaccine under the government’s school- and community-based immunization program.

He said he continues to cooperate in the submission of documents to the Department of Justice and both houses of Congress, in support of their respective investigations on the dengue immunization program.

“I am also after the truth and I am for the correction of the deficiencies observed in the rollout of the program,” Duque said.

The health chief also vowed to hold accountable anyone found liable in the Dengvaia mess.

“Should there be any Department of Health official who will be proven to have transgressed any law or deviate from standard operating procedures in relation to the purchase and implementation of the dengue vaccine, I will make sure they face justice,” Duque added.

On Thursday, VACC lawyer Manuelito Luna slammed Duque for supposedly telling lawyers to leave to doctors and other experts the medical aspect of the investigation on Dengvaxia.

He also accused Duque of not cooperating in their probe by not providing them the documents they had requested, making him liable for obstruction of justice and for violating Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The government’s dengue vaccination program, which involved more than 800,000 public school children, has been put under the spotlight after Dengvaxia manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, disclosed certain adverse effects on recipients who didn’t have prior infection.