Gordon report seen to dictate gov’t move on Dengvaxia issue – Roque

FAST LANE The DOH had designated so-called dengue and
Dengvaxia lanes in hospitals to accommodate victims of the
antidengue vaccine. —LYN RILLON

The Senate committee report on Dengvaxia would be “given much weight” when Malacañang decides the future actions of the government on the issue, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Friday.

Sen. Richard Gordon on Wednesday released the draft report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee that recommends the prosecution of former president Benigno Aquino III and other officials in connection with the government’s P3.5-billion Dengvaxia mass vaccination program.

Gordon said Aquino, former health secretary Janette Garin and former  budget secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad had conspired and must be charged.

“That’s a report created by a powerful committee of a co- equal branch of government  that will be given much weight by the Executive when it decides its next course of action on the issue,” Roque said in a statement.

The Palace official reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to see the results of the investigation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

READ: Palace mum on Senate blue ribbon committee Dengvaxia draft report

“The President though is still awaiting for the report of the NBI on the matter,” he said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in December 2017 ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct an investigation and case build-up on controversial anti-dengue vaccination program of the government.

READ: DOJ orders NBI to probe P3.5-B anti-dengue drive controversy

The NBI has yet to release the results of its findings.