SOME 13 incumbent officials of the Department of Health (DOH) are facing administrative charges before the Office of the President over their supposed involvement in the implementation of the controversial anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.
An administrative complaint was lodged Monday, February 5, against Undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David, and Mario Villaverde; Assistant Secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; Director Laureano Cruz; OIC directors Joyce Ducusin and Mar Wynn Bello; Director IV Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay and Ariel Valencia; and Director Julius Lecciones.
The petitioners, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc. (VPCI), accused the DOH officials of committing grave misconduct and gross negligence for "ill-advisedly, thoughtlessly, or imprudently" implementing the anti-dengue vaccine program.
The VACC and VPCI asked MalacaƱang to suspend the DOH officials pending investigation to prevent them from using their power to "destroy, hide or tamper with the evidence as well as intimidate potential witnesses against them."
The two groups questioned the procurement of Dengvaxia vaccine, which they claimed as "fast tracked" and may have breached the Government Procurement Reform Act.
"It is incontrovertible that the respondents are guilty of grave misconduct and gross negligence for ill-advisedly, thoughtlessly, or imprudently implementing the school-based immunization of tetravalent denggue vaccine of the Department of Health in the National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Central Luzon, and/or for causing the Dengvaxia fiasco," the petition read.
"There is an urgent and imperious necessity to preventively suspend all the respondents pendente lite so that they may not use their power or influence to destroy, hide or tamper with the evidence as well as intimidate potential witnesses against them, or otherwise obstruct justice," it added.
The DOH suspended the anti-dengue vaccination program in December 2017, after manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur revealed that Dengvaxia could cause severe dengue in individuals who have not contracted the virus prior to immunization.
Over 800,000 children had been inoculated with Dengvaxia prior to the release of these new findings.
On Friday, February 2, the VACC lodged a complaint before the Commission on Elections against former president Benigno Aquino II, former Health Secretary Janette Garin, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, four former DOH official, and 13 active DOH officials over the Dengvaxia fiasco.
The VACC accused Aquino and other respondents of violating Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code when they allowed the release of P3.5 billion in public funds for the procurement of Dengvaxia vaccine. (SunStar Philippines)