Noynoy not yet off the hook in Dengvaxia controversy, solon says

House Committee on Health chair Dr. Angelina Tan on Thursday debunked reports that former President Benigno Aquino III has been cleared of any liability in the implementation of the controversial Dengvaxia vaccination program.

The Quezon congresswoman made the clarification after a newspaper report stated that her committee as well as the Good Government and Public Accountability committee have cleared Aquino of culpability.

"It is unfortunate that the reports have made it appear that the Health panel is one with the Good Government and Public Accountability panel in exonerating the former chief executive," Tan said in a statement to reporters.

"It is not true that we in the Committee on Health have concurred with the findings and recommendations of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability as we have never been part of the drafting process nor have been consulted on the matter," she added.

The two House panels held an inquiry earlier this year into the procurement process and purchase of the P3.5-billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccine, which allegedly has posed health risks to more than 700,000 school children.

Tan said that while it is true that her committee previously submitted its own draft report, it "merely touched upon the issue of health and efficacy based on its own independent investigation."

She said that the Health panel conducted three hearings on the topic before submitting its draft committee report for consideration of the Good Government and Public Accountability panel.

"The said panel had taken over the investigation after the previous leadership of the House of Representatives had abruptly ordered to terminate our investigation in favor of the Good Government and Public Accountability panel," she added.

Tan also said that the draft committee report which is said to have cleared Aquino did not even reach the floor due to Dinagat Islands Representative Kaka Bag-ao and Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado's motions to defer its presentation, despite Tan's own objection and that of Nueva Ecija Representative Estellita Suansing, the other principal author of the resolution.

Both Bag-ao and Bordado belong to the Liberal Party, which Aquino is a part of.

"The truth is, l was ready to question the draft findings and recommendations, which to my mind were biased in favor of Aquino and [former Health Secretary Janette] Garin," Tan said.

"The joint panels have scheduled the consideration of the draft report on the following day, which however did not push through inasmuch as Rep. [Johnny] Pimentel had been replaced as chairman of the committee," she added.

Camiguin Representative Xavier Jesus Romualdo had replaced Pimentel as chair of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

Tan said that based on their own investigations as well as the inquiries of the Senate, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Public Attorney's Office, Aquino and Grain may be held liable in the controversial vaccination program together with other high-ranking officials of the Department of Health.

"It cannot be denied that it was Aquino, as the highest official of the land at that time, who caused the purchase of Dengvaxia despite the fact that it was still undergoing clinical trials," she said.

"Sanofi Pasteur, Dengvaxia's manufacturer, has later on admitted the vaccine may pose risks when administered to individuals not previously infected with dengue," she added.

Several charges have already been filed against Aquino, Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad in relation to the botched dengue vaccination program. — BM, GMA News