Aquino prepared to face add’l complaints over Dengvaxia mess

FILE: Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

Former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III is ready to face more charges lodged against him over the controversial dengue immunization program, his camp said on Wednesday, April 11.

Abigail Valte, Aquino’s spokeswoman, issued this remark after Senate Blue Ribon committee chairman Richard Gordon released its draft report recommending criminal charges against Aquino and his then Cabinet members, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad and former Health Secretary Janette Garin.

In a text message, Valte said that Aquino’s “consistent participation in legislative investigations and other venues” proves that he will face accusations against him. The spokeswoman was pertaining to the former Philippine leader’s attendance in the Congress’s hearings on the now-suspended vaccination program.

“Former president Aquino has always demonstrated his readiness to answer questions about his decisions as president. He will continue to face whatever additional complaints are filed in connection with this matter,” Valte stressed.

Reading the draft report of the Blue Ribbon committee earlier in the day, Gordon said that Aquino, Abad, and Garin should be charged with graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees or Republic Act 6713.

Gordon even called the three accused as “primary conspirators,” and that they must be prosecuted “for all the tragedy, damage, and possible deaths resulting from the Dengvaxia mass vaccination program.”

He also said that Aquino’s “greatest sin and transgression” was to “put the lives of Filipino children in grave peril.”

Responding to this, Garin said that the report is “full of inaccuracies, half truths” and “one-sided” as it only reflects Gordon’s personal opinion on the issue, which has not been vetted by the Senate.

“The presentation is one-sided and replete with innuendos of expedited government action. Timely and responsive government action is not a violation of the law,” Garin noted.

Just like Aquino, the former Health Secretary said her conscience is clear and that she is ready to answer any charges that will be filed against her in court.

“I am awaiting a copy of the report and will call for a press conference at the appropriate time,” she added.

The P3.5 billion worth of immunization program was launched in April 2016 during the Aquino administration.  This program aims to provide free vaccines to public school students in places with high incidences of Dengue.

The vaccination was called off last December following concerns over the risks posed by Dengvaxia to those who had not had the infection.