QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) — Officials of the previous Aquino administration are not yet off the hook regarding the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
Roque said that that after the investigation being conducted by Congress and the Department of Justice, those who are found to be liable will be charged.
“Basta ang sabi ni Presidente, ituloy ang imbestigasyon ng DOJ, ituloy ang imbestigasyon ng Senado, at kung merong dapat managot, pananagutin niya,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a briefing.
The statement was made after President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said that at this stage, prior to any investigation, he would not want to blame anyone yet on the issue of the anti-dengue vaccine for children.
“I am not prepared to condemn anybody there simply because we bought it. Not as yet. So I’m not prepared to pass judgment. I can only inquire and hope that everything will give us the truth because anything here in this planet requires truth,” the President said in an interview.
“Considering my position, I will order the implementation, unless there’s a study or a counter statement to the efficacy and the danger of the drug. I don’t have any choice and many have already died (because of dengue). There’s no advice not to use it, or the advice was not proper, I cannot blame anybody,” Duterte added.
When asked about the statement of the President, Roque said that the Chief Executive showed that he really is a statesman for wanting to address the issue in a “sober, calm, and reasoned” manner.
“He understands why the prior administration implemented the dengue vaccine. Thousands were afflicted with dengue. It’s a deadly disease. There’s a vaccine that they knew, in good faith, would be able to help and they implemented it,” Roque said.
“But my personal view is it shows that the president is really a statesman. He could have joined other individuals in the process of politicizing this issue. And I think you know that there is a political noise now but he opted to adopt a very sober and a very calm response to the controversy, and reasoned response to the controversy,” he added.
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