Comelec summons Aquino, two ex-Cabinet officials over Dengvaxia-related poll complaint

The Commission on Elections law department has ordered former President Benigno Aquino III and two former Cabinet officials to appear at the poll body's office in connection with the case filed against them by the Volunteers' Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) over the Dengvaxia mess.

The poll body's law department summoned Aquino, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad and former Health secretary Janette Garin to appear at its office on March 15 for the preliminary hearing of the case.

Former Department of Health consultant Dr. Francis Cruz and the VACC accused the three of violating Section 261 (o) and (v) of Batas Pambansa 881 (Omnibus Election Code), which prohibits the release and use of public funds within 45 days before a regular election or 30 days before a special election.

The complaint is based on the time of the release of funds for the purchase of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccines.

The vaccines were used in the government's dengue immunization program, which was rolled out in April 2016, a month before the national elections.

Cruz and the VACC also filed the same complaint against several former and incumbent Department of Health Officials.

The health officials were ordered by the Law Department to appear and submit their counter-affidavit on March 8.

In a text message, Abad told GMA News that they are already preparing their counter-affidavit.

"We are confident that all our releases and disbursement fell well within the allowable period and no violation of the election ban was committed," he said. —ALG, GMA News