House to invite Aquino to Dengvaxia hearing

Former President Benigno Simeon Aquino lll. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

The House of Representatives’ good government committee has invited former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to its inquiry on the controversial P3-billion dengue immunization program.

During a Wednesday hearing on the unrelated Tagum Agricultural Development Corp. controversy, the committee approved the motion set by Deputy Minority Leader Lito Atienza.

The lawmaker had sought Aquino’s appearance along with former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to shed light on the alleged procurement irregularities and haste in the purchase of Dengvaxia vaccines during the 2016 election campaign season.

Atienza told reporters that he wanted to get these facts straight from the horse’s mouth, because the officials of his administration would only give “razzle-dazzle” answers and “cover his shadows.”

“The former President’s answers will be presidential—the buck stops there,” Atienza said.

“There is no funding in the budget, where did it come from? Was that a spur of the moment decision? Is this a planned activity to time with the election campaign? Who can answer that? Only the President,” he added.

Atienza pointed out the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine from French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Pasteur “would not have happened if the President did not approve it.”

Asked if Mr. Aquino’s appearance before the Senate’s inquiry on the issue was not yet enough, Atienza said: “They’ve gone a long way, but nothing has happened.”

Mr. Aquino’s spokesperson Abigail Valte has yet to respond to requests for comment.

Atienza filed House Resolution No. 1519, seeking to “hold accountable those responsible” for the purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine, following Sanofi-Pasteur’s November disclosure that it could pose an increased risk in hospitalization for seronegative recipients, or those who did not have any exposure to the mosquito-borne disease prior to immunization.