Palace to PAO: Substantiate bribery allegations vs Duque, et al

Malacañang will not conduct an investigation of allegations that officials and other people linked to the Dengvaxia mess are paying off victims’ families P50,000 to drop charges against them.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo on Monday said the Palace would leave it to Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta to substantiate her allegations against past and present health department officials.

‘Serious charge’

“That’s a serious charge. She should have substantiated that,” Panelo said at a press briefing. “We’ll leave it to [Acosta] to file the appropriate charges, if there is such a case.”

Acosta earlier alleged that “agents of those charged” in connection with the Dengvaxia mess were paying off the victims’ families so they would withdraw the charges. She also claimed that Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had ordered the release of P50,000 in financial aid to the families.

Duque is one of several former and current health officials as well as officials of Dengvaxia’s manufacturer and local distributor who are facing 31 complaints over the deaths of recipients of the dengue vaccine. —Julie M. Aurelio