By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
The Department of Justice has started the preliminary investigation into the criminal complaint filed against former President Benigno Aquino III and several others, including two of his former Cabinet officials, in connection with the Dengvaxia mess.
Aquino, former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, former Health Secretary Janette Garin and representatives of Sanofi-Pasteur were no-shows in the hearing on Tuesday, May 15, but they were represented by their lawyers.
Present were former and current officials of the Department of Health, and the representatives of Zuellig Pharma.
Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Rosanne Balauag clarified the DOJ, and not the Ombudsman, had jurisdiction over the charges for criminal negligence and reckless imprudence, technical malversation, causing undue injuries, and for violation of the Procurement Law, saying the charges filed did not only constitute graft.
“That’s why we assumed jurisdiction…It’s up to us how we will decide,” she said.
She also scheduled the next hearing to June 4, the same day the respondents were ordered to submit and affirm their counter-affidavits.
The DOJ panel will also send a subpoena to eight officials of Sanofi-Pasteur who are respondents in the cases.
Aquino, Garin, Abad and several others are also facing plunder charges in connection with the Dengvaxia mess before the Ombudsman.
