Aquino, Abad facing technical malversation charges over vaccine purchase – Panelo
The legal woes of former President Benigno S. Aquino III and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad are not yet over since they are still facing separate complaints over the controversial Dengvaxia vaccination program, according to a Palace official.
Even though Aquino and Abad were not included in the list of persons recently indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the filing of technical malversation charges have been recommended against the two former officials for the alleged anomalous purchase of the antidengue vaccines.
"Merong hiwalay na kaso, hindi sila kinasuhan dun sa Dengvaxia pero kaugnay sa Dengvaxia yung pagpasok ng Dengvaxia dito sa mga purchases, kinasuhan sila ng technical malversation, another case. So kasama pa rin sila (They have a separate case. They were not indicted for Dengvaxia but in connection with the purchase of Dengvaxia, they have been charged with technical malversation in another case so they are still part of it)," Panelo said in a radio interview.
Asked if Aquino and Abad would still be held accountable, Panelo said: "Dun sa mga kasong inihain sa kanila, yun ang findings ng DOJ [With the cases filed against them, that's the finding of the DOJ].”
Panelo made the remark after Senator Richard Gordon reportedly expressed dismay over the non-inclusion of Aquino and Abad in the criminal raps to be filed by the DOJ over the Dengvaxia mess.
Gordon, head of the Senate blue ribbon committee that probed the controversy, said authorities should look into the alleged involvement of Aquino and Abad in hastening the procurement of the Dengvaxia vaccines. He said cases should be filed against them "because justice delayed is justice denied."
The justice department recently found probable cause to charge former Health Secretary Janette Garin and several other officials with reckless imprudence resulting in homicide for the 13.5-billion Dengvaxia program.
Back in July, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of technical malversation charges against Aquino, Garin, and Abad over the alleged irregular implementation of the immunization project. Aquino denied the accusation.
In his remarks Sunday, Panelo maintained that they would let the legal process take its course on the cases filed against the persons implicated in the Dengvaxia controversy.
He said the Palace would not interfere with the affairs of the judiciary.
"Ang hukuman naman ang magbibigay ng hustisya sa mga nagsampa ng kaso. Kung mapatunayan na may kasalanan, bibigyan sila ng karampatang parusa (The judiciary will give justice to the complainants. If proven guilty, they will be given the appropriate penalty)," he said.