Former President Benigno Aquino III INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON
Senator Bam Aquino said his cousin, former President Benigno Aquino III, was not a “psychic” to preempt the supposed risks of anti-dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, when the latter approved its implementation during his time.
The Senate blue ribbon committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon has recommended the filing of cases against Aquino and his officials for the botched P3.5 billion Dengvaxia controversy.
But Senator Aquino, a member of Gordon’s panel, questioned the findings against the former leader.
Like many of his colleagues, who signed the panel’s report, he said, he did not agree that Aquino was among the “primary conspirators” as the warnings about Dengvaxia were only disclosed by its manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, late last year.
READ: Aquino, Abad, Garin ‘caused’ Dengvaxia ‘tragedy’ – draft report
“Nagtataka rin kami kung papaano siyang naging conspirator kung sa panahon naman na ginawa ‘yung transaction sa Dengvaxia, hindi pa naman lumalabas ‘yung ibang mga balita tungkol dito,” Senator Aquino said.
(We’re also wondering how he became a conspirator if the time when the transaction on Dengvaxia was made, news around the vaccine had not come out yet.)
“Hindi naman psychic si former President Aquino,” he added.
(Former President Aquino is not a psychic.)
The senator also hit Gordon’s panel for its alleged failure to answer the basic question – whether or not Dengvaxia has indeed caused harm to children.
“Ano ba talaga ‘yung harm? Ano po ba talaga ‘yung nadudulot ng Dengvaxia? Hindi ho malinaw, ito ba’y nakakasama? Ito ba’y may nagagawang masama dun sa ating mga bata?” he said.
(What is the harm exactly? What does Dengvaxia cause? It’s not clear, is this harmful? Will it do something bad to our children?)
“It did not resolve that issue…so the most basic question dun po sa (on the) Dengvaxia issue, palagay ko merong pagkukulang ‘yung blue ribbon dito (I think the blue ribbon committee has shortcomings),” he further said.
The committee’s report on Dengvaxia has been signed by majority of its members, enough to elevate it to the plenary for deliberations.
Many of the signatories, however, have either dissented or expressed reservations on the recommended charges against Aquino. /je
READ: Most senators who signed report on Dengvaxia against suing Aquino