SEVERAL individuals including former President Benigno Aquino 3rd are facing a graft complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the government’s scuttled dengue immunization program. Named respondents along with Aquino in the complaint filed on Friday were former Health secretary Janette Garin, former Budget secretary Florencio Abad, former executive secretary Paquito Ochoa, Sanofi Pasteur Vice President Guillaume Leroy, Sanofi Pasteur Chief Executive Officer Olivier Brandicourt, Sanofi Pasteur Medical Director Ruby Dizon, Sanofi Pasteur Asia-Pacific Head Thomas Triomphe, and Sanofi-Aventis Philippines Country Head Carlito Realuyo. He cannot feign ignorance and claim that he made the decision to unburden his ‘bosses’ from the dreaded disease. Respondents’ liability is underlined by the admission of Sanofi Pasteur that the vaccine…exposes to severe dengue those who have not contracted dengue prior to vaccination,” the complainants also alleged. Named respondents to the case were Health Secretary Francisco Duque, Interior Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy and Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones.

Source: Manila Times December 22, 2017 16:53 UTC