THE Department of Justice (DoJ) has issued an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against former president Benigno Aquino III, former health secretary Janette Garin and seven others over alleged irregularities in the acquisition and distribution of P3.5 billion worth of Dengvaxia vaccines. “Considering the gravity of the possible offenses which may have been committed there is a strong probability that they may attempt to place themselves beyond the reach of the legal process of the government,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre 2nd said in a memorandum signed on December 23 and addressed to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente. The Health department ordered a halt to the implementation of the program this month after its manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur, admitted that the vaccine might aggravate the condition of a first-time dengue patient. The Department of Health said that more than 830,000 children from public schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Cebu were vaccinated with Dengvaxia. While the ILBO could not bar persons of interest from leaving the country, it could alert authorities on their movements.

Source: Manila Times December 24, 2017 16:41 UTC