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Manila Bulletin devider devider Duque denies liability for obstruction of justice on Dengvaxia probe

Duque denies liability for obstruction of justice on Dengvaxia probe

Published Feb 16, 2018 04:55 pm
  By Charina Clarisse Echaluce Health Secretary Francisco Duque III today denied the accusations made by the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) that he could be held liable for obstruction of justice after refusing to cooperate on the on-going Dengvaxia investigation. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (AP Photo/Aaron Favila / MANILA BULLETIN) “I deny any accusation that I am obstructing justice. I am not protecting anyone, most especially those allegedly involved in the controversial implementation of the dengue immunization," said Duque. He then vowed to continue giving full cooperation and transparency in the submission of documents to the Department of Justice and both houses of Congress for their respective probes. "I am also after the truth and I am for the correction of the deficiencies observed in the roll-out of the program,” Duque stressed. He assured that anyone who will be found liable in the program, which was launched by the previous administration, will be held accountable. "Should there be any DOH official, who will be proven to have transgressed any law or deviate from standard operating procedures in relation to the purchase and implementation of the dengue vaccine, I will make sure that they will face justice," the DOH chief noted. Yesterday, VACC lawyer Manuelito Luna slammed Duque for supposedly telling lawyers to leave to doctors and other experts the medical aspect on issues surrounding the anti-dengue vaccine. He also claimed that Duque has not been cooperating in their probe by not giving the documents they have been requesting. Such actions, Luna said, makes him liable for obstruction of justice and for violating Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Vaccine controversy On November 29, 2017, the Sanofi Pasteur announced a "new finding" on its vaccine Dengvaxia, which was used in the government's mass immunization program involving around 830,000 children. "The analysis confirmed that Dengvaxia provides persistent protective benefit against dengue fever in those who had prior infection.... For those not previously infected by dengue virus, however, the analysis found that in the longer term, more cases of severe disease could occur following vaccination upon a subsequent dengue infection," Sanofi said in a previous statement. On December 1, 2017, Duque put on hold the government vaccination drive. So far, the DOH has recorded 29 deaths of children who were given the dengue vaccine.
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