(Eagle News) — Former Health Secretary Janette Garin on Monday vowed to attend the hearing scheduled by the Commission on Elections following allegations she and two others violated the election law when they implemented the controversial Dengvaxia vaccination program.
“It will allow me to show that the immunization program was not at all part of a political exercise as others are trying to make it appear, but was already part of (the Department of Health) program to find a solution to a real health concern at that time which was dengue,” Garin said in a statement.
She noted that at that time, the World Health Organization ranked the Philippines number one in the Western Pacific Region in terms of dengue cases.
It noted, she said, that more than 200,000 dengue cases were recorded in 2013 to 2015 in the country.
“Had the program been a political one, then it would not have been school-based, but community-based. And had it been political in nature, why did Secretary designate (Paulyn) Ubial continue and expand it,” she said.
The hearing on March 15 stems from the complaint filed by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption against Garin, former President Benigno Aquino III and former Budget Chief Florencio Abad.
The complainant argued the three violated a provision of the Omnibus Election Code that says that public funds should not be released 45 days before an election.
The Dengvaxia vaccination program was implemented in April 2016, or a month before the elections.
