Gordon: Documents on Sanofi’s Dengvaxia ‘hidden’ by some DOH people

Senator Richard Gordon on Sunday said the blue ribbon committee has obtained documents related to the Dengvaxia vaccines being "hidden" by some people at the Department of Health (DOH).

"Mayroon pang mga tao na nagtatago ng mga dokumento na nasilip namin, mga kawani ng DOH na hindi ni-report iyong kakulangan ng Sanofi," Gordon said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

He said that the documents will show that former Health secretary Janette Garin forced the Food and Drugs Administration of the Philippines to issue a permit for the distribution of Dengvaxia even without through the World Health Organization's prequalification requirements.

"It will show na ganun kalalim ang hawak ni Secertary Garin at that time na napapayag niya ang FDA na magbigay ng permit na hindi pa luto ang test," the senator said.

"Lumalabas na 'di kumpleto ang papeles nitong Sanofi pero pinayagan," he added.

Gordon did not disclose the names of the DOH officials. He said the blue ribbon committee will release the documents during the continuation of its hearing on the Dengvaxia purchase this Tuesday, February 6.

Homicide through reckless imprudence

During the interview, Gordon said that members of the blue ribbon committee think that the people involved in the purchase of the dengue vaccine, who may already be liable for graft, may be eventually charged with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

He said the homicide charge may be recommended against members of the Aquino Cabinet involved in the purchase if test would prove that Dengvaxia is the reason behind the deaths of several children who recently died from dengue.

Gordon said that the findings of Philippine General Hospital team released last week is the "first step."

The DOH said that based on the findings of the team, three children vaccinated with Dengvaxia died due to dengue.

It said that the three children exhibited causal association —  two of them suspected to be caused by "vaccine failure."

Gordon, however, said that there is no officials findings yet that would to Dengvaxia as the reason behind the children's deaths.

He said among the officials who may be liable for graft include former President Benigno Aquino III, Garin, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and other officials from the past administration and the DOH.

The senator explained that Aquino may be included because he was the one who instigated the purchase by meeting Sanofi officials.

Meanwhile, the senator said the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) should have waited for the officials findings before filing complaints related to the Dengvaxia vaccine.

The VACC filed complaints against Aquino, Abad and Garin for allegedly violating the election law through the anti-dengue vaccination program.

"I don't agree necessarily with what they filed. Ang cause of aciton nila ay ginamit ang pera ng gobyerno pangkampanya. 'Di pa naman natin napapatunayan 'yon eh. Wala pa tayo roon eh," Gordon said. —ALG, GMA News