Separate DoJ raps for Noy

Days after criticisms were raised on the reckless imprudence resulting to homicide complaint cases it filed which many considered insufficient for not including former President Benigno Aquino III, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said a separate case will involve the former Chief Executive.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) may resolve within the month criminal complaints against Aquino and others implicated in the hasty procurement of anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia from French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur.

A DoJ panel has released last 27 February a resolution finding probable cause to indict Garin and 19 others for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for their liability in the deaths of eight children who got shots of the vaccine.

“Maybe within the month it will be released,” Guevarra told reporters when sought for comment on the status of the complaint filed against the former Chief Executive by two groups, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and the Vanguard of the Philippine Constitution Inc.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee that probed the Dengvaxia scandal, urged the DoJ to look closely into Aquino’s possible liability in the P3.5-billion purchase of the vaccine.

“I have already explained to Senator Gordon that former President Aquino, (former Budget) Secretary Butch Abad, et al. are facing a different complaint, which is also up for resolution by the DoJ very soon,” Guevarra explained.

Aquino and his co-respondents are accused of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act (RA) 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; technical malversation under Section 65(3) of RA 9184, the Government Procurement Reform Act and reckless imprudence resulting to multiple homicide through criminal negligence under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.

Charged along with Aquino are Abad, Garin and former and current Department of Health officials.

Other respondents are Undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; Assistant Secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; directors Laureano Cruz, Joyce Ducusin, Mar Wynn Bello, Leonila Gorgolon, Rio Magpantay, Ariel Valencia and Julius Lecciones; retired Undersecretary Nemesio Gako; resigned Undersecretaries Vicente Belizario Jr. and Kenneth Hartigan-Go and resigned executive assistant to Garin, Dr. Yolanda Oliveros.

Sanofi Pasteur and local distributor Zuellig Pharma officials were also named as co-respondents in the complaint.

The National Bureau of Investigation likewise filed in July 2018 a criminal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Aquino, Abad and Garin over their alleged involvement in the anomalous purchase of the vaccine.