Aquino, Garin face mass murder, plunder raps over dengvaxia controversy

MANILA, Philippines — Former Education and Skills Development chief Augusto Syjuco Jr. filed on Friday mass murder and plunder complaints against former president Benigno Aquino III and former health secretary Janette Garin over the controversial dengue vaccination program.

Syjuco, who filed the raps at the Office of the Ombudsman, described the mass immunization of dengvaxia implemented under Aquino’s term as “illegal, unjust, improper, inefficient, life-threatening and outright unconscionable.”

“It’s life-threatening effects supposedly transpire 30 months after inoculation which is now fast approaching since Aquino [who is] irresponsible, demented started its dreaded and reckless usage on 733,000 nine-year-old and older as human ‘guinea pigs,’” Syjuco said.

Dengvaxia refers to the dengue vaccine manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur which has potential health risks for individuals who have not had dengue before immunization according to post-clinical analysis.

However, the complainant admitted lack of evidence to support his protests against the former president except for news reports.

Syjuco also filed a rap against Aquino in 2015 over the Mamasapano incident that left deaths of the government’s uniformed forces, terrorists, including civilians.

Appearing before Senate inquiry into dengue vaccine mess, Aquino said they wanted to save lives so they pushed for the implementation of the mass immunization.

The former president added that Dengvaxia has passed local and international procedures and checks to ensure its efficacy and safety before the implementation of the immunization program.

He also said nobody has expressed objection against vaccination.

“Before the government decided on Dengvaxia, while deciding, and even after deciding, no one came to me with an objection to the vaccine,” Aquino said.

Aquino added that it was the obligation of the government to calm the public by providing them with the most information about Dengvaxia and advise them on what to do.

The Department of Health (DOH) has directed the suspension of the immunization program upon the endorsement of the World Health Organization (WHO).