MANILA – Malacañang will wait for the result of a National Bureau of Investigation probe into Dengvaxia before it comments on a Senate committee draft report on the controversial dengue vaccine.
The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee recommended charging former president Benigno Aquino III and several other officials during his term.
“Awaiting findings of the NBI still,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque told the press on Wednesday when sought for comment.
It was during the Aquino administration that the government bought Dengvaxia for a massive public dengue immunization program.
Dengvaxia came under scrutiny when manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur disclosed last year that the vaccine could lead to severe dengue symptoms when administered to those who have not been previously infected by the virus.
Aquino, former Health secretary Janette Garin and former Finance secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad should be held “criminally liable” for the Dengvaxia mess, committee chair Richard Gordon said on Wednesday.
The NBI investigation into the dengue vaccine was ongoing.
Aquino and company “must be prosecuted for all the tragedy, damage and possible deaths resulting from the Dengvaxia mass vaccination program,” Gordon said, reading from the draft report.
Aquino, during a House of Representatives investigation into Dengvaxia, said the issue was being “politicized” by government officials he did not name.
Malacañang denied its hand in the so-called “politicization.” “If it is (being politicized), it’s certainly not because of the President (Rodrigo Duterte),” Roque had said in a Palace briefing.
Roque said Duterte “understands” why the Aquino administration decided to roll out the vaccine but still wanted to get to the bottom of the issue.
“His (Duterte) continuing order is for the (NBI) investigation to continue and conclude to find out who’s criminally liable,” Roque said. (With Philippine News Agency/PN)
