MALACANAÑG urged Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta to back up her claims that the Department of Health (DoH) bribed the kin of dengvaxia victims so they would back out from the dengvaxia case.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the statement after Acosta said that at least four families were paid P50,000 each so they would not pursue the case.
“May schedule po kaming apat this week, puro na-abort dahil binayaran diumano ng P50,000 ng mga ahente ng nasasakdal,” she said.
In a press briefing, Panelo said that Acosta should present proof that will support her serious allegations.
“That’s a serious charge. She should substantiate it,” he said.
“We’ll leave it to her to file the appropriate charges if there is such a case,” he added.
However, Panelo said Malacanang will be keeping its hand off the case and will just wait instead of investigating the allegation.
“No. We’ll have to wait. That is just an allegation. So we cannot just be poking into every allegation of every person or citizen in this country,” he said.
“If they have evidence against particular public official, then sue and let due process run its course,” he added.
The government is conducting an investigation into the deaths of several children who were administered with Dengvaxia.
More than 800,000 Filipino children have received the now controversial vaccine under the program initiated by the Aquino administration.
However, Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur revealed that the vaccine could worsen the effects of dengue on those who have not been exposed to the virus. (Argyll Cyrus B. Geducos)
