Garin: Gordon’s report one-sided and full of inaccuracies

Former Health secretary Janette Garin said Wednesday the draft Senate blue ribbon committee report is one-sided, full of inaccuracies, and half-truths as Senator Richard Gordon already prejudged the Dengvaxia procurement issue from the very start.

According to Garin, Gordon's statements about the issue are his personal opinion and have not been vetted by the Senate as a whole.

“While he is entitled to it being a sitting senator, I am honest in the belief that he has prejudged the case from the very beginning based on the inputs of vested interest parties who want to control the DOH (Department of Health),” she said in a text message to GMA News Online.

She said that it was former Health secretary Enrique Ona who declared that there was a dengue epidemic when he was the head of DOH.

“We in the DOH then acted accordingly to meet the health crisis. It is manifest that the anti-dengue immunization program was important because secretary designate (Paulynn) Ubial continued and even expanded it!” she said.

“The presentation is one-sided and replete with innuendos of expedited government action. Timely and responsive government action is not a  violation of the law,” she added.

Garin said she was thankful that the draft committee report will be submitted to the plenary so as the opinions, half truths, inaccuracies, and allegations of Gordon may be answered in the proper forum.

“Again, I strongly believe he has been ill-advised and has prejudged all of us even before the start of the hearings,” she reiterated.

She said that her conscience is clear and ready to face the charges. Garin said she will wait for a copy of the report and answer at a press conference.

“My conscience is clear and I am ready to answer any charge that will be filed against me in a court of law. I am awaiting a copy of the report and will call for a press  conference at the appropriate time,” she said.

Gordon, reading the draft report of the Blue Ribbon committee, said Garin, President Benigno Aquino III, ex-Budget secretary Florencio Abad, and other officials are primary conspirators and must be held criminally liable and must be prosecuted for all the tragedy, damage, and possible deaths resulting from the Dengvaxia mass vaccination program.

He said said Aquino, Garin, Abad and other government officials should be investigated and prosecuted for graft and violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. — RSJ/KBK, GMA News