DOJ Summons Ex-Pres. Noynoy Aquino & Two Former Cabinet Secretaries to Respond to Criminal Charges in Connection with Dengvaxia Vaccine
The Department of Justice under the administration of Pres. Rody Duterte has summoned former President Benigno Simeon Aquino III (Noynoy Aquino) and two former Cabinet Secretaries to respond to the criminal charges filed against them in connection with the series of deaths and serious illnesses of children inoculated with the controversial anti-dengue Dengvaxia vaccine.
According to the DOJ, a panel of investigating prosecutors issued a subpoena compelling former Pres. Aquino and his former aides to appear today, May 15, 2018. The DOJ will conduct its preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by two anti-crime advocacy groups and the families assisted by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).
The panel of investigating prosecutors are composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rossane Balauag as its head with the following the following members which include Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Hazel Decena Valdez and Assistant State Prosecutors Consuelo Corazon Pazziuagan and Gino Paolo Santiago.
The complaint was filed by Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) lawyer Manuelito Luna, and Eligio Mallari of the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc.
Aside from former President Aquino, also ordered to appear were former Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. Covered in the subpoena were officials of Zuellig Pharma and Sanofi Pasteur, which brought the vaccine to the Philippines and was used by the DOH in the implementation of the nationwide anti-dengue program implemented by the Aquino admin and continued by the Duterte administration.
Included in the charge sheet were health undersecretaries Carol Tinio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; health assistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; other health officials, namely Laureano Cruz, Joyce Ducusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia and Julius Lecciones; former health undersecretaries Nemesio Gako, Vicente Belizario, Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go; Garin’s head executive assistant Yolanda Oliveros; unnamed directors and officers, or employees of Zuellig; and unnamed directors, officers or employees of Sanofi Pasteur.
In its complaint, the VACC said former President Aquino was clearly liable after he met with Sanofi officials abroad and juggled funds and authorized the release of P3.55 billion to procure the vaccines, within the 45-day election ban.
Criminal charges were filed against former Secretary Abad for issuing the allotment order for the procurement. Garin was charged for allowing the procurement and the vaccination of children.
Sanofi was charged for “undue interest” over the implementation of the mass vaccination program.
Aquino and Garin were also accused of violating election laws by using the vaccination program “to further the candidacy of Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas as well as the other candidates of the Liberal Party, at the expense of innocent children, and their utter disregard of the Procurement Law.”
According to the DOJ, a panel of investigating prosecutors issued a subpoena compelling former Pres. Aquino and his former aides to appear today, May 15, 2018. The DOJ will conduct its preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by two anti-crime advocacy groups and the families assisted by the Public Attorney's Office (PAO).
The panel of investigating prosecutors are composed of Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rossane Balauag as its head with the following the following members which include Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Hazel Decena Valdez and Assistant State Prosecutors Consuelo Corazon Pazziuagan and Gino Paolo Santiago.
The complaint was filed by Philippine Anti-Corruption Commission Commissioner and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) lawyer Manuelito Luna, and Eligio Mallari of the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc.
Aside from former President Aquino, also ordered to appear were former Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad. Covered in the subpoena were officials of Zuellig Pharma and Sanofi Pasteur, which brought the vaccine to the Philippines and was used by the DOH in the implementation of the nationwide anti-dengue program implemented by the Aquino admin and continued by the Duterte administration.
Included in the charge sheet were health undersecretaries Carol Tinio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; health assistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; other health officials, namely Laureano Cruz, Joyce Ducusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia and Julius Lecciones; former health undersecretaries Nemesio Gako, Vicente Belizario, Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go; Garin’s head executive assistant Yolanda Oliveros; unnamed directors and officers, or employees of Zuellig; and unnamed directors, officers or employees of Sanofi Pasteur.
In its complaint, the VACC said former President Aquino was clearly liable after he met with Sanofi officials abroad and juggled funds and authorized the release of P3.55 billion to procure the vaccines, within the 45-day election ban.
Criminal charges were filed against former Secretary Abad for issuing the allotment order for the procurement. Garin was charged for allowing the procurement and the vaccination of children.
Sanofi was charged for “undue interest” over the implementation of the mass vaccination program.
Aquino and Garin were also accused of violating election laws by using the vaccination program “to further the candidacy of Liberal Party presidential bet Mar Roxas as well as the other candidates of the Liberal Party, at the expense of innocent children, and their utter disregard of the Procurement Law.”
Source: The Manila Times / PNA
DOJ Summons Ex-Pres. Noynoy Aquino & Two Former Cabinet Secretaries to Respond to Criminal Charges in Connection with Dengvaxia Vaccine
Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
May 15, 2018
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Reviewed by Phil Newsome
on
May 15, 2018
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