Gordon to DOJ: Study Noynoy’s possible ‘illegal procurement’ of Dengvaxia

Sen. Richard Gordon. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Saturday said the Department of Justice (DOJ) should look into former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s involvement on the “illegal procurement” of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine.

“Quite frankly I’m a bit disappointed [dapat] tingnan maigi ang involvement ni President Aquino and company,” Gordon, chair of the Senate panel that led the investigation into the Dengvaxia mess, told local radio station DWIZ.

“I hope the Secretary of Justice should take a second look at it because as far as I am concerned, ‘di nila tinignan yung aspeto ng procurement at ang reckless diyan nagbigay sila ng gamot na hindi sila sigurado,” the senator added.

Gordon was reacting on DOJ’s indictment against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and other personalities for reckless imprudence resulting to homicide for the deaths of schoolchildren related to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

READ: DOJ indicts ex-DOH chief Garin, et al. for Dengvaxia ‘mess’

Gordon explained the Aquino administration used P3-billion worth of funds for the Dengue immunization program and that the former President even met with Dengvaxia maker, Sanofi Pasteur, three times.

“Ang ginastos three-and-a-half billion. Parang humanap lang ng paraan para magastos ang pera at ang nangyari illegal procurement,” Gordon said.

“How do you explain that? Nakipagkita ang pangulo sa isang drug dealer ng Sanofi three times ‘Yung bilis ng paggalaw ng gobyerno tuwing maguusap sila ay mabilis. Talagang napabili sila ng hindi kailangang gamot,” the senator said.

Under the Aquino administration, the DOH launched an anti-dengue immunization program using Sanofi Pasteur’s Dengvaxia which was offered to 800,000 individuals, who are mostly children.

However, a year later, Sanofi Pasteur warned that the vaccine could be dangerous among those who have not been infected by dengue virus prior to the vaccination.

In December 2017, The Food and Drug Administration ordered to pull out the vaccine from the Philippine market. /jpv