Abad: Plunder rap over Dengvaxia mess is ‘baseless’

Former Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad has downplayed the plunder complaint filed against him and other officials of the past administration including former President Benigno Aquino III, for alleged misuse of public funds in purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines.

Abad said in a message to Inquirer.net on Thursday that while he has yet to receive a copy of the complaint, he is confident that it is “baseless.”

“I haven’t seen the complaint; but nonetheless, I am certain and confident that no fraud nor any irregularity accompanied the procurement of the vaccines.  So the complaint is baseless,” Abad said.

“We will look for its dismissal,” the former budget chief added.

Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) Legal Committee Chairman Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, and Citizens Crime Watch Association, Inc. (CCW) National President Diego Magpantay, filed the plunder case against Aquino, Abad, and others at the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday. /je

READ: Aquino, et al. face plunder rap over Dengvaxia