Noynoy Aquino, Garin, Abad appear at DOJ to answer rap over Dengvaxia mess

Former President Benigno Aquino III, ex-Health secretary Janette Garin and ex-Budget chief Florencio Abad on Monday appeared at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to submit their answers to a criminal complaint brought against them over the Dengvaxia mess.

Previously represented only by their lawyers, the former executive officials attended the preliminary investigation into the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption's (VACC) complaint after they were required by a DOJ panel of prosecutors to show up to subscribe to their respective counter-affidavits.

Former President Benigno Aquino III and former Health secretary Janette Garin attend a preliminary investigation on the Dengvaxia controversy at the Department of Justice in Manila on Monday, June 4, 2018. Danny Pata

They face charges for multiple homicide and physical injuries through criminal negligence, graft, technical malversation, and violation of the procurement law in connection with the P3.5-billion purchase of the controversial anti-dengue vaccine.

Also present at the ongoing hearing were some of the other respondents in the complaint, including former and incumbent officials of the Department of Health.

Other individuals made to answer the complaint are officers and executives of Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur and local distributor Zuellig Pharma.

Aquino, Abad and Garin also face fresh plunder charges at the Office of the Ombudsman, also in connection with their administration's nationwide anti-dengue vaccination project.

Criminal and civil cases against officials of the Aquino administration piled up after Sanofi Pasteur announced in November last year that the vaccine may cause "severe" dengue upon subsequent infection among people who have not acquired the mosquito-borne disease prior to immunization. —KG, GMA News