03 MARCH 2019

NEWS
2
Sunday, 3 March 2019
Daily Tribune
Why skip Noynoy?
The DoJ did not delve into the aspect of procurement and the reckless deed there was that they
purchased medicines that they are not sure of
Figure it out Sen. Richard Gordon ponders on reasons for the Department
of Justice to dodge powerful officials and settle for minnows in the Dengvaxia
charges.
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Dengvaxia purchases was
immediately released
following the Paris
meetings.
“How do you
explain the fact that
the President met with
Sanofi (officials) three
times and if there is a
measure on the speed
of the negotiations, it
always speeds up after
the President’s meeting,”
he said.
“So what transpired was
that they purchased a medicine
that was not needed and is now
banned by the Department of
Health (DoH). Dengvaxia was
not used and furious debates
ensued,” Gordon added.
The senator, however,
admitted there is still no
conclusive scientific evidence
to prove that Dengvaxia was
to blame for the deaths of
those inoculated.
“But, definitely, the
procurement was wrong
and the circumstances
behind it created a
hysteria which was
entirely lamentable,”
he said.
“Spent was P3.5 billion. It
seems that they merely looked
for an excuse to use the money
which resulted in the illegal
procurement,” Gordon added.
If convicted, Garin and her coaccused
could face a penalty of
up to six years of imprisonment.
You’ll notice that the
transaction for the
purchases of Dengvaxia
speeds up whenever Aquino
is present.
Retribution time
In its resolution, the DoJ
said state prosecutors found
Garin and the other respondents
“exhibited ‘inexcusable lack of
precaution and foresight’ when
they facilitated, with undue
haste, ‘the registration and
purchase of Dengvaxia’ and
used the vaccine in implementing
a school-based dengue mass
immunization program.”
“The panel found sufficient
evidence that Garin and the
other respondents circumvented
various regulations in the
purchase of P3.5 billion worth
of Dengvaxia vaccine which
constituted proof of their reckless
imprudence,” the statement said.
The prosecutors also found
cause to charge nine other
officials from the DoH, two
from the Food and Drug
Administration, two from the
Research Institute for Tropical
Medicine and six from vaccine
maker Sanofi Pasteur for the
same offense.
Stop politicization
Following the DoJ complaint,
Malacañang appealed to
involved parties to refrain from
discussing the issue publicly
and just let the legal process
take its course.
“The wheels of justice
have begun to grind for
the victims and families of
children who died allegedly
because of the Dengvaxia
vaccine with the DoJ finding
probable cause to charge
former officials responsible
for the failed immunization
program initiated during
their time,” presidential
spokesman Salvador Panelo
said.
“Now that the legal process
has taken its course, we wish
everyone would finally stop
politicizing the issue in the
court of public opinion, noting
that such exercise has only
caused an unnecessary fear
on the part of parents for
good and creditworthy health
programs of the government
to the detriment of innocent
children,” he added.
“As for the defendants, they
should welcome this latest
development as an opportunity
to clear their names and raise
whatever defense they have in
relation to the matter before a
court of law,” the spokesman
said.
But definitely, the
procurement was wrong
and the circumstances
behind it created a
hysteria which was entirely
lamentable.
“We will not interfere in the
proceedings save for the DoJ
which is mandated by law to
prosecute accused felons,” he
added.
Panelo also called on the
public to stop seeing political
color in the case.
“Now that the legal process has
taken its course, we wish everyone
would finally stop politicizing the
issue in the court of public opinion,
noting that such exercise has only
caused an unnecessary fear on
the part of parents for good and
creditworthy health programs of
the government to the detriment of
innocent children,” Panelo said.
Free zone for stumpers
She said President
Rodrigo Duterte’s
hometown is open to
everyone, including
candidates of the
opposition Otso Diretso
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are happy for you.
The mayor said since the
opposition slate extended an
invitation to the senatorial bets
of HnP, referring to the debate
challenge, “therefore I am
forced to invite members of Otso
Diretso,” she said in an interview.
If our senators are the
sun and HnP is the moon,
you are my brightest star
(Swordfish).
In her speech she urged
Davaoeños to go out and be
part of the various activities,
particularly to the new events
added for this year.
Hard work feted
“Why celebrate Araw ng Davao
every year? Simple. We need to
celebrate as this is for Davaoeños
in recognition of their hard work,
sacrifices and successes,” she
said.
She added the
celebration also aims
to recognize also the
ordinary city residents
who work hard everyday.
Duterte-Carpio also
emphasized the celebration
is a way to salute traffic
enforcers, garbage collectors,
streetsweepers, teachers, police,
firefighters and military who
keep the city in order.
Celebration is for
Davaoeños in recognition
of their hard work,
sacrifices and successes.
“For every household that
segregates and throws its waste
on time, to the honest taxi
drivers who returned things left
by passengers in their taxis, to
the responsible establishment
owners, to the law abiding and
disciplined Davaoeños who
cross in the pedestrian lanes
and follow the speed limit, no
drunk driving policy — this
Araw ng Davao is for every
Davaoeño, man, woman and
child regardless of cultural
background, religious
belief or gender
identity,” she said.
Best soon to come
She added the best is yet to
come for Davao City. She said if
Davaoeños all work hard enough
and double their efforts, “we
might attain the best during
our lifetime like the eagle flying
towards the sun.”
“Let the celebration all be a way
to learn and honor the past and be
hopeful for the future while always
remaining vigilant,” she said.
We might attain the best
during our lifetime like the
eagle flying towards the
sun.
Apart from the presentation
of the finalists in the annual
beauty search Mutya ng Davao, the
opening was also highlighted with
the presentation of the candidates
of the first ever gay pageant Reyna
Davaoeña 2019 and candidates of
Ginoong Davao.
Rehab no joke Manila Bay clean up goes full-steam as even benches are not spared to rid the area of obstructions
to the path towards the beach.
BOB DUNGO JR.
Water needs saving Lack of rain due to the onset of an El Niño weather episode resulted in La Mesa Dam’s water level to reach a critical point.
ANALY LABOR