Duterte not engaged in politicizing Dengvaxia mess, Palace says

February 26, 2018

If there is anyone engaged in politicizing the Dengvaxia mess, President Rodrigo Duterte was not one of them, Malacanang said on Monday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was reacting to the statement of former President Benigno Aquino III, who said the issue over the controversial dengue vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur has been politicized.

"If it is, it certainly not because of the president," Roque said when asked to react on Aquino's statement that the Dengvaxia issue has been politicized.

"The president has taken a very calm, very rational approach to this. He has made a declaration that he understands why the previous administration decided to use Dengvaxia, having been a victim of dengue himself. But his continuing order is for the investigation, the NBI to continue and to conclude it so that we will find out if people should be criminally liable," Roque added.

But Roque said since the Philippines is a democratic country, anyone could air their opinions on the matter.

"It’s a free country. Of course, individuals can come up with professional opinions. But that professional opinion, of course, the weight of that opinion will depend on whether or not they have the qualification to make expert opinions according to the revised rules of court," he said.

Aquino attended the hearing over Dengvaxia mess at the House of Representatives on Monday.

Aquino questioned the qualification of an expert whose certificate allegedly was "one grade higher than those diplomas being bought in Recto."

Recto Avenue in Manila is a known place where falsified certificates could be bought. Celerina Monte/DMS