LP: Draft Dengvaxia report a ‘smokescreen’ to divert attention from gov’t

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party said that the release of the draft committee report on the Dengvaxia controversy could be a move to cover up controversies hounding the current administration.

LP vice president for external affairs Erin Tañada questioned the release of the draft report, noting it coincided with the impending closure of Boracay and President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the House to speed up the impeachment process against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

“This is simply a smokescreen of the administration to hide the issues hounding its officials,” he said.

He added that such move would direct the public ire to the LP.

On Wednesday, Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the blue ribbon committee, released an unsigned report in connection to the anti-dengue vaccine fiasco, which recommended the filing of charges against former president Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and other officials.

Gordon accused the former chief executive of putting the lives of Filipino children in grave peril by “simply not caring.”

READ: Senate blue ribbon on Dengvaxia mess: Aquino simply did not care

Unsigned report

Tañada and Sen. Bam Aquino also raised questions why the unsigned committee report was released before it has been filed or sponsored.

“Though this report has not been made available to the members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, if the final report reflects yesterday’s statements and political leanings, we will have serious concerns with the conclusions made,” Aquino said.

READ: Senate panel: Aquino, execs liable for Dengvaxia conspiracy

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, for his part, noted that the draft report did not dwell on the current administration.

“The vaccination was not only done during the previous administration, but also during the current government. It raises doubts because Gordon’s report only focused on the past government,” Baguilat said in Filipino.

The Dengvaxia controversy caused panic among parents last year when Sanofi announced that its vaccine could cause a more severe form of disease for those who had not yet contracted it.

This has led to several congressional inquiries in both the Senate and the House where Aquino testified to defend the controversial program.

READ: JV: Ex-Cabinet members, not Aquino, are ‘primary conspirators’ of Dengvaxia mess