In an interview over dzbb, PCMC Executive Director Julius Lecciones said, however, that it was the then-Health Secretary who directed that this be done.
The health secretary at that time was Janette Garin.
“Ang PCMC ang inatasan ng DOH, ng Secretary of Health, na kung maaaring siya ang mag-procure para sa pangangailangan nila sa Dengvaxia. Wala naman akong nakitang maaaring… legal o ilegal dahil from time to time kami naman ay nagpu-procure para sa DOH,” Lecciones said.
He added at that time, the vaccine was approved by the FDA so he had “trust” it was safe.
He said for the procurement, P3 billion were transferred to him.
Upon receipt of the money, he said he gave the same to Zuellig Pharmaceuticals, the distributor of the vaccine at that time.
He added that a competitive bidding observed by Namfrel and their own Commission on Audit had been done prior to this, in compliance with the Government Procurement Law.
He said he would disclose all that he knew in the Senate inquiry to be held last week.
