Former President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON
Former President Benigno “Noy” Aquino III has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to “do the right thing” by dismissing the election offense case filed against him, in connection with the controversial dengue vaccination program.
Aquino, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the case was based on “make-believe” allegations and “ill motive.”
In the case, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and other complainants accused Aquino, former Health Secretary Janette Garin, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and several Department of Health officials of violating the Election Code when they embarked on the project on April 4, 2016.
45-day ban
The complainants said the date was within the 45-day ban on the disbursement of public funds prior to the May 9 polls.
“I reiterate, under the correct and worthy justice system, the mandate of the law to the complainant is to … show concrete proof. It’s clear that it failed in all standards of the law and truth. It’s also clear that the destiny of a complaint like this is the trash bin,” Aquino said.
“I expect the Comelec to do the right thing and that is to dismiss the complaint in the soonest possible time,” he added.
The former President maintained that two of his accusers, doctors Francis Cruz and Clarito Cairo Jr., made wrongful allegations in their complaint.
‘Just harassment’
“It’s clear that the aim of this is just harassment. Maybe it’s true … that the aim of this is not justice, but to attract attention to get appointed to a position [in government],” he said.
Aquino and Garin showed up at the Comelec on Thursday in response to a summons.
He said the purchase order for the vaccine Dengvaxia was issued on Mar. 9, 2016, or 16 days before the Mar. 25 poll ban.
Aquino also denied claims that the inoculation program was launched during a political activity because Aquino and others present wore yellow shirts, the color of the Liberal Party.
“Does it mean every government employee who wore yellow, whether inside or outside their homes, within the 45 days before the election, also committed the offense?” he asked.