Says move was attempt to “hide issues hounding” administration officials
(Eagle News) — An ally of former President Benigno Aquino III questioned the timing of the release of the draft blue ribbon committee report on Wednesday, April 11.
In a statement, Quezon Representative Erin Tañada, the Liberal Party’s vice president on external affairs, said the release of the report that recommended the filing of charges against Aquino and several others over the Dengvaxia mess was “simply a smokescreen of the administration to hide the issues hounding its officials.”
“Why was the committee report released to the public before it has been filed or sponsored? Are not the signatures of majority of the committee members required before the report can be filed? What happens to the report if the majority disagrees? Wala pang pirma,” Tañada said.
He said the release of the unsigned report was intended to deviate the “anger of the people” from the administration to the Liberal Party, noting that it came at a time there was an impending closure of Boracay, and at a time the prices of goods were rising.
He noted that only recently, President Rodrigo Duterte called on Congress to fast-track the impeachment process against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
The report also recommended the filing of charges against Aquino’s Health Secretary Janette Garin, his Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, and officials of the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, the Department of Health and Sanofi, the vaccine manufacturer.
