At least 10 senators have signified their commitment to sign the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report on the botched P3.5-billion anti-dengue program that was launched by the Aquino administration, Sen. Richard J. Gordon said yesterday.
Gordon, chairperson of the committee, said among those who have signed the report he released last week were Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, head of the Senate Health and Demography panel, and Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri.
“It’s not a draft report, that’s the chairman’s report and that is final,” Gordon clarified over Radyo DZBB. “A lot of senators will sign Monday (today),” Gordon said.
The senator said he is optimistic that a majority of senators will sign and approve his report. “Basta ang alam ko may sampu na. Madaling makukuha ang majority sa tingin ko. I’m not worried about the report,” the senator said.
Even though some senators frowned on the committee’s conclusion that Aquino is liable for graft, Gordon insists that the panel’s documentary evidence against him and other officials involved in the case are strong enough to stand for court trial. “I believe in my heart and in my mind and in my limited knowledge of the law that that can withstand the courts,” he said.
Gordon said he is standing pat on his report but said he does not wish that Aquino be jailed for his supposed role in approving the Dengvaxia deal with Sanofi-Pasteur.
He said that no Philippine leader has so far been held completely liable for their misdemeanors during their administration. (Hannah L. Torregoza)
