Duque goes ballistic over raps

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed shock and anger at becoming the latest official to be charged in connection with the premature inoculation of about 800,000 school children with the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

Duque was named respondent in a case filed on Friday by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), led by Persida Rueda Acosta, in the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The filing of charges against the health secretary followed those against former President Benigno Aquino III, two members of his Cabinet and dozens of others over alleged irregularities in the purchase and distribution of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The DOJ panel conducting a preliminary investigation decided on Friday to summon the former President and his corespondents in its preliminary investigation.

May 15 appearance

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rossanne Balauag said the panel would issue subpoenas for Aquino and the others to appear in the panel’s next hearing on May 15.

Besides Aquino, also being investigated by the DOJ were former Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Aquino and his corespondents are accused of violating procurement laws and of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and physical injuries over the deaths of children that are being blamed on Dengvaxia.

Duque was charged in a separate case by PAO for the death of a child who had been given Dengvaxia when Duque was already health chief.

Duque went ballistic over being named respondent in the case, accusing Acosta of malice.

‘Why me?’

Duque said he found it odd that he was named respondent while his predecessor, Paulyn Ubial, was not.

“Why was I impleaded and Ubial was not? I find that malicious,” he said.

“Acosta’s actions are clearly unbecoming of a public official,” he added.

But Duque said he would answer “these baseless allegations.”

Being named respondent is a “form of harassment and vexation,” he said.

Duque was named respondent because of the death of Abbie Hedia, 13, who was given Dengvaxia on Nov. 17, 2017 or 10 days after Duque’s appointment as health secretary by President Duterte.