Gordon tells senators to vote with conscience on Dengvaxia

Senate Blue Ribbon committee chairman Richard Gordon yesterday appealed to his colleagues to vote on his findings on the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy in accordance with their conscience, not their political affiliations.

Fourteen senators have signed the draft committee report prepared by Gordon.

He would sponsor the report in plenary when Congress resumes session on May 15.

“My appeal is that they vote in accordance with their conscience and what is in accordance with the law and not based on their political affiliations,” Gordon said.

While some of the senators who signed the report indicated their reservations on the findings or their desire to introduce amendments, Gordon said what is important is that the minimum number of signatures required for a committee report to be presented in plenary was reached.

“I’m not worried about that (the comments of the senators). The report stands on itself. I can defend it,” Gordon said over dwIZ.

Most of the objections raised about the committee report were regarding the recommendation that former president Benigno Aquino III should be charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act because of his supposed role in the controversy.

Gordon maintained that he has no personal grudge against Aquino and he considers the former president as a friend, but he stands by his findings, particularly the criminal liability on Aquino’s part.

Gordon also said the report would support his recommendations because the evidence was documented, including the testimonies given by all of the resource persons that were all under oath.

Gordon added he does not mind the opinion of his colleagues that Aquino should not be held criminally liable as the matter is not up to them to decide because the Department of Justice or the Office of the Ombudsman could take notice of the committee report and file the necessary charges later on.

Asked to comment on his colleagues’ criticisms on the committee report, Gordon said he does not intend to quarrel with any of them. But he has appealed to them to refrain from throwing insults at him just because they do not agree with his findings.

The Department of Health noted at least 26 of the schoolchildren have died between March 2016 to January this year, although it has not been concluded that the deaths were due to the vaccine.

Parents have asked the Public Attorney’s Office for help in filing charges against a number of Sanofi and government officials.