Garin, co-accused post bail amid pending Dengvaxia purchase case

House Deputy Majority Leader and former Health Secretary Janette Garin said on Monday that she posted bail in connection with the alleged illegal use of public funds or property charges filed against her and three others over the P3.57 billion purchase of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

Garin, who served as Health chief during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, reiterated that she was innocent of the charges.

"Posting bail is part of the agonizing process to prove our innocence. It is a crucial step in ensuring a fair trial and safeguarding one's rights," Garin said in a statement.

"We hope that this first step into clearing our name can be dealt with timely so that scientists and doctors can perform our regular tasks," she added.

Garin also said that her co-accused in the case - DOH Undersecretary Kenneth Go, former DOH Officer-in-Charge Director Maria Joyce Ducusin, and former Executive Director Julius Lecciones of the state-run Philippine Children’s Medical Center - had also posted bail.

“Resolving the issue once and for all is aligned to the Doctors for Truth clamor because global history has taught us that any vaccine demonized, usually spreads to include other vaccine-preventable diseases and results in outbreaks," Garin pointed out.

“Dengvaxia issues have led to a significant drop in vaccine confidence leading to measles and polio outbreaks in the Philippines,” Garin added.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against Garin, Go, Ducusin, and Lecciones over the supposed unauthorized purchase of anti-Dengue vaccines known as Dengvaxia.

In the charge sheet dated October 24, government prosecutors alleged that the health officials “willfully, unlawfully and feloniously” caused the release of P3.57 billion in public funds to increase the budget for the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) but used the said funds for Dengvaxia purchase which is not part of the EPI.

Further, the Ombudsman alleged that Dengvaxia vaccines are not listed in Volume 1 of the Philippine National Drug Formulary and have not secured an exemption from being listed in Philippine National Drug Formulary in violation of Executive Order No. 49, series of 1993, and related administrative orders and issuances.

“[These circumstances are] to the damage of public service [and are] contrary to law,” the criminal information read.

The Ombudsman recommended P18,000 bail for each accused in the case. — DVM, GMA Integrated News