(Eagle News) — Senator JV Ejercito on Thursday, April 12, urged the government to help the public initiate a class suit against Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi.
“Legal action should also be taken by the Philippine government against Sanofi towards the establishment of an indemnity fund for children who were vaccinated..” Ejercito added.
He said this was “to provide them with financial assistance for medical care throughout their lifetimes.”
“We need to do more to provide assistance to the victims,” he said.
In his statement, Ejercito also pointed fingers for the Dengvaxia mess at former Health Secretary Janette Garin and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, who he said were the ones who were “primarily liable.”
He said Garin pushed for the purchase of the vaccine “despite the fact that the clinical trials were not yet finished,” and despite “warnings by some experts as to its dangers.”
As for Abad, Ejercito said he “facilitated, recommended, and approved the release of the money without congressional approval in amazing record time, and during a holiday period at that!”
He said former President Benigno Aquino III was also, however, “guilty of negligence for not exercising due diligence.”
“That is a failure of leadership that should hound his conscience and legacy,” he said.
“Filing of charges will give chance for all the accused to air their side and defend themselves in court,” Ejercito added.
On Wednesday, April 11, Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the blue ribbon panel that held hearings on the Dengvaxia mess, announced a panel draft report had recommended the filing of charges against Aquino, Garin and Abad, Sanofi, and others for the Dengvaxia mess.
The draft report, however, has yet to be signed by members of the panel.