UPDATED: Amid Dengvaxia mess, several senators believe former President Aquino acted in good faith

Former President Benigno Aquino III (C), his Budget Secretary Butch Abad (leftmost) and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa (rightmost) taking their oath in Thursday’s Senate hearing on the Dengvaxia mess./Meanne Corvera/Eagle News Service/

(Eagle News) — For four senators, former President Benigno Aquino III acted in good faith when he ordered the procurement of the controversial dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, and the implementation of the dengue vaccination program.

Senator JV Ejercito said in an interview that in his opinion, Aquino only gave the directive “to avert dengue outbreak in the future.”

“But it’s the other officials who might have taken advantage and did not give him an extensive report that includes the risk, if there was,” Ejercito said, noting that Presidents rely on his advisers primarily for information on an issue.

Senators Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian and Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee holding an inquiry into the Dengvaxia mess, echoed Ejercito’s statement.

“I stand by President Noy, given the circumstances, information and research given and available to him, he acted in the best interest of our people,” Villanueva said.

“The President was not informed that Sanofi had a record,” Gordon added.

Gatchalian even pointed out who was to blame.

“It is the responsibility of the alter ego, in this case former secretary (Janette) Garin to meticulously vet any proposals for public health to the president…Clearly in the hearing, the former secretary gave the former president incomplete information about Dengvaxia which made him decide to conduct massive immunization among children,” he said.

Appearing for the first time before a Senate panel inquiry into the Dengvaxia mess, Aquino said he received no reports of opposition to the drug, which was procured during his time.

Sanofi has admitted recently that the vaccine could cause “severe cases” in those who have not had the virus beforehand.

Over 800,000 schoolchildren were administered the vaccine under the national government’s dengue vaccination program started during Aquino’s time. With a report from Meanne Corvera, Eagle News Service